Stephen,
The other responses here all have major truths!
In government and government-like environments such as National Labs, engineers do what technicians do in industry, and you have to be PhD to actually direct programs. Knowing people at National labs, we characterized it as engineers sweep and prep, MSE's test, and PhDs engineer. That's a lot of extra education time and expense to get to that point in my opinion.
Broadening one's knowledge can be really valuable. Most times in academia, you have to pick a topic for a Master's, then pick a narrow focus of that for a PhD, so eventually you know almost everything about almost nothing. But not knowing where you will end up, at first or subsequent jobs, it's important to have more than a narrow focus.
Your experience doing the various testing regimens is really valuable for your knowledge of how things work! As a research assistant you were really an overqualified, underpaid technician. However at most employers they don't pay engineers to do all of those tasks, at least hands-on; they pay the engineers to direct others doing those tasks. The smaller the group that you work with, the more likely you will have continued exposure to work details, or to run your own microscope/analyzer, but the less upward mobility you will have available. With experience you may be able to become a consultant, but you have to get the experience first. And individual consultants don't often work in research, though consulting firms may be engaged for their expertise in specific areas of research.
Because you're interested in the practical side of testing and analysis, you may want to look into companies that provide testing/or and consulting services for others. Once you have a couple of years of experience, you may have a better idea of whether to get that Master's and maybe you'll even be working somewhere that values and supports your further education. Or you may do work for a customer whose business area is very attractive and you may then change direction.
Not specifying that your R&D dreams are even firmly rooted in Materials? It sounds to me like you have to focus a little more, in some definite direction. Even the Materials world is only getting more broad and diverse with every year, and you don't have an unlimited lifetime to explore it all. Some work experience will either point you in a direction, or at least show you that you aren't interested in <whatever>, and that will maybe help with direction. Good luck!
------------------------------
Paul Tibbals
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 08-26-2024 16:33
From: Stephen Para
Subject: Which Master's degree is best for a career goal in research and development?
I obtained a bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering. During my last year of college, I worked as a laboratory assistant underneath a graduate student. I really enjoyed the hands-on experience of being in the laboratory. The various projects I did were tensile testing, heat treatment, hardness testing, and lots of imaging and data analysis.
I would like to go into research and development in the future. It would be great if it was in a Materials setting, but I want to keep my options broad and diverse. What Master's degree would be recommended that would prepare me, and make me look favorable, for research jobs that involve more practical testing as opposed to theoretical design?
------------------------------
Stephen Para
Saint Charles IL
------------------------------