Doc Rheo F/U: Degrees of Food Rheology

I recently had a chance to discuss this letter with a food science professor.  (This professor is familiar with rheology, but it's not his main area of research.)  The professor told me that graduate food rheology projects might be difficult for one important reason: there is no such thing as a model food system.  There are model polymer systems that are used in chemistry and physics studies, but a degree focused only on food rheology might be more difficult than other fields.

Ask Doc Rheo: Degrees of Food Rheology

Dear Doc Rheo:

What do you think of a degree in food rheology?
A student

Dear Student:

I’m the wrong guy to answer your question.

All my degrees are in Chemical Engineering, and my graduate work was in polymer rheology. While my current position involves food rheology, my employer wanted a chemistry or engineering major with experience in rheology.

When I was in school, I was often told that a Chemical Engineering degree was extremely flexible, as it could provide employment in many different industries. These comments were correct, as my former classmates and I work in a wide variety of fields. If you take a look at job report posts from this year and last year, you’ll see that generic rheological jobs ask for Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science/Engineering, or Material Science backgrounds most often.

However, I have been contacted recently by headhunters who are trying to fill some food rheology jobs. I think that these folks have found me by entering “food” and “rheology” into the LinkedIn search function.

To get an answer to your question, you would be better off contacting food rheology professors. I have no experience with the requirements for a food science degree, so I’m not sure what generic benefits the degree confers.

Sincerely,
Doc Rheo

Ask Doc Rheo: Tissue Fiber Rheology

Dear Doc Rheo:
Do you have, or know anyone who has experience in tissue rheology, specifically on fibers?  I am interested in developing a database on rheological characteristics of the various tissues in the body, ie breast tissue, abdominal adipose tissue, scar tissue, etc.
Josh

Dear Josh:
This is far outside my area.  Any readers who would be willing to talk to Josh send me an email at rheolworldblog -at- gmail.com.
Thanks,
Doc Rheo

Ask Doc Rheo: Gamma Dot 2

Dear Doc Rheo:
How do you put gamma dot into Excel plots?
Anna

Dear Anna:
Microsoft Equation has to be inserted as an object.  Objects cannot be inserted into axis labels.  If I really need to have gamma dot on the chart, I'll insert directly from the rheometer software.
Respectively submitted,
Doc Rheo

Ask Doc Rheo: Paper Coatings Companies

Dear Doc Rheo:
Can you give me the names of some paper coatings companies?
A Student (again)

Dear Student:
Here are some companies that I know make paper coatings--

• Stora Enso
• Dow Chemical
• PPG

Commenters--do you have any other names?

Here are some other coatings links--

• http://www.coatingsconference.com/
• http://www.pcimag.com/
• http://www.paint.org/meetings/coatings_tech.cfm

Good luck,

Doc Rheo

 

Ask Doc Rheo: Industries for Rheologists

Dear Doc Rheo:
 I would like to know more about rheology jobs in other areas besides polymers.
--A Student

Dear Student:
When I worked in sales and applications for a rheometer company, I looked at samples from adhesive, asphalt, building materials, cosmetics, food, ink, paint, pharmaceutical, polymer, and paper coatings industries.  This is by no means an exhaustive list; as materials and supplies have gotten more complicated and expensive, companies want precise methods of characterization.  If you would like to find out more industries that employ rheologists, do the following...

1. Take a look at job web sites like Monster or Careerbuilder.  My monthly job search shows results from all sorts of companies.  (Besides, it's never too early to start thinking about your job hunt.)
2. Take a look around your lab and note the instruments that are there.  Go to the instrument company web site and find the list of shows the company attends.  You will identify where the instrument companies have customers and prospects.

The good news about jobs in these other industries is that the top majors for rheologists are Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, and Polymer Science.


Respectively submitted,
Doc Rheo

Dear Doc Rheo

Dear Doc Rheo:
How do you type the symbol of shear rate "gamma-dot" ?
Andrew Sun

Dear Andrew:

I use the equation plug in for Microsoft Word.  I've been using this package for the last 15 years.  With this software, you can add accent dots over characters like so...

Respectively submitted,

Doc Rheo