Materials Scientist
Materials Scientists work in a wide variety of business environments including the manufacturing, aerospace, engineering, renewable energy, information technology, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Materials Scientists are involved in the measurement and analysis of a particular material's structure and properties, a process known as materials characterisation. Scientific materials characterisation techniques are constantly evolving thanks to technologies such as electron microscopes and mass spectrometers which enable ever more detailed analysis of the structure and properties of materials down to a molecular level. The results of materials characterization work carried out by Materials Scientists will be used to alter and improve materials for specific purposes or to develop new materials. Within the biomedical industry, for example, new materials for implants and other medical devices which do not have a negative impact on human cell tissues are being developed by Materials Scientists.
Within the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industries Materials Scientists will typically be engaged in characterising API and drug products. A Materials Charaterisation Scientist will be primarily lab based utilising a suite of physical and chemical materials characterisation techniques, which would include light microscopy, particle size analysis, powder flow, spectroscopy and thermal techniques. Accurate recording and reporting of large sets of data resulting from the Materials Scientist’s characterization work is always required.
Qualifications and Experience Required to become a Materials Scientist
• Science based degree
• Experience with performing, designing and conducting laboratory experiments either in industry or at university
• Desire to undertake hands-on laboratory work and work and the pharmaceutical industry in general.
• Familiarity with physical property materials characterization techniques e.g. laser diffraction particle size, specific surface area
• Use and interpretation of thermal methods including differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis
• Application of materials characterisation assessment methods to predict product performance
• Ability to interpret results and use this to suggest further materials characterisation where applicable.
• Time management skills, including the ability to plan, prioritise and organise own work
• Written communication skills (technical)
• Ability to work with others collaboratively in a team setting
• Enthusiastic, positive, proactive, flexible attitude and able to take the initiative
Basel is a city on the Rhine River in northwest Switzerland close to the borders with France and Germany. The official language of Basel is German although, with 35% of the inhabitants being foreign nationals, English is also widely spoken. The University of Basel, founded in 1460, is Switzerland's oldest university and it houses some of Erasmus’s works. Erasmus’s tomb is to be found in the city’s 12th century Romanesque-Gothic cathedral. There are almost 40 museums in Basel as well as many beautiful medieval buildings around the Marktplatz.
Basel is home to large pharmaceutical and chemical industries with companies such as Novartis, Syngenta, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Hoffmann-La Roche, and Actelion being headquartered in the city. Like other Swiss cities, Basel is also a centre for banking and both the Bank for International Settlements and UBS are located in the city. The Basel Area is one of the most sought-after life sciences locations in the world, and is clearly Europe’s top life sciences hub. Roche and Novartis, two out of three global pharma market leaders have their global headquarters here.
Basel can also rightly claim the longest history in life sciences. From the beginnings with its industrial silk ribbon dye mills in the mid-century 1800s up to the biotech revolution, the region’s life sciences ecosystem has repeatedly evolved and reinvented itself in the course of the industry’s larger developments. This success story is still going strong and will continue.
The Basel Area is home to over 700 life sciences companies that are making a substantial contribution to a dynamic business environment. The life sciences industry is the growth engine of the Basel Area – homegrown and here to stay. The Basel Area is also a hotspot for promising startups, such as docdok.health AG, Versameb AG, Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals AG, T3 Pharmaceuticals AG and Cellestia Biotech AG.
The Basel Area is also a world champion in gross value. The $66 billion USD exports of pharma products per year are impressive.
Famous people from Basel include: Roger Federer, champion tennis player and Ursula Andress, actress.
Switzerland is a great place to further your career in life sciences. If you are a looking for pharmaceutical jobs in Basel, scientific careers in Basel or want to discuss cell therapy, gene therapy, ATMP, medical device, technology, biotech or pharmaceutical job opportunities in Basel, give our Next Phase team a call. The Swiss area is continuing to expand as a centre for jobs in science, process development, technology, software development, project management, informatics, quality, reg affairs and supply chain.
At Next Phase we help people find new jobs in life sciences across the UK, Europe and USA. This page lists some of the job opportunities in Switzerland, and if you give us a call we can also talk to you about other scientific jobs, pharmaceutical career opportunities and the latest updates in cell and gene therapy and ATMP development in the Basel area.
