SC-XRD Careers

This page explores how skills from the XRD Facility translate into real-world careers across science, engineering, and industry.

Scientific & Research Careers

Crystallographer: Determine atomic structures of molecules and materials using single-crystal or powder XRD.
Materials Scientist: Study how structure affects properties in metals, ceramics, polymers, organic compounds and medicines, porous materials, and other advanced materials.
Solid-State Chemist or Engineer: Design and analyze new materials using diffraction and structural modeling.

Pharmaceutical Scientist: Use single crystal XRD to analyze the absolute structure of new drug molecules and identify stereochemistry. Also model how small molecule drugs might dock or interact with proteins and other macromolecules in the body. Use powder XRD to analyze drug forms (polymorphs, crystallinity) to ensure safety and effectiveness of powdered drugs in capsules.
Process Chemist: Monitor and optimize crystallization and manufacturing processes.
R&D Chemist: Characterize catalysts, compounds, and materials in industrial research labs.

Semiconductor Engineer: Use thin film XRD, XRR, and epitaxy to develop microchips and electronic devices.
Metallurgical Engineer: Analyze phases, texture, and residual stress in metals for aerospace design and manufacturing.
Failure Analysis Engineer: Investigate why materials fail using diffraction and structural insights.
Coatings & Surface Scientist: Study thin films and surfaces for applications in optics, energy, and nanotech.

Synchrotron Scientist: Run high-powered XRD experiments at national research facilities.
Research Scientist: Use XRD to study energy materials, data storage materials, nanotechnology, and other emerging systems.

Data Scientist (Materials): Apply machine learning to diffraction and materials data to predict new materials and their properties.
Software Developer (Scientific): Build tools for structure solution, refinement, and analysis.
Instrument/Application Scientist: Work with companies (e.g., Bruker, Rigaku) to develop methods and train users.

Energy Materials Scientist: Study batteries, solar cells, and fuel cells using XRD techniques.
Geoscientist / Mineralogist: Identify minerals and geological samples using powder diffraction.
Forensic Scientist: Analyze unknown materials in criminal investigations.
Patent Law: Analyze unknown materials in criminal investigations.

Professor / Educator: Teach and lead research in chemistry, materials science, or engineering.
Facility Director / Lab Manager: Operate shared instrumentation labs and train researchers (like in the BYU XRD Facility).