In simple terms, metallurgy implies the scientific study of metals and their applications. Usually, metals are mixed with various other materials including soil, sand, rocks, etc. and these are known as “minerals”. Metallurgy engineering underscores the methods of extraction of pure metals from these minerals. The course of metallurgy involves various aspects related to mining, extraction, designing, study of property of metals and their processing. It also includes understanding of complex “laws of thermodynamics' '; these are necessary for extraction of certain metals like copper, iron, and zinc from their oxides. Iron and steel industry is the largest application of metallurgical engineering in a country like India.

The area of metallurgy offers unique career opportunities to students who are interested to work in “core engineering areas” and keen to explore the metals & study their properties.

Major Job Profiles:

1.    Metallurgical Engineer / Production Manager: This is the core profile where the engineers are involved in extracting, refining, and recycling metals. They also solve various common problems associated with metals like corrosion, improving their strength and making them suitable for various types of applications and industries. They are deeply involved in the study of physical and chemical properties of metals including “failure analysis”. There are demands for these engineers in several industries that have extensive use of metals in some way or the other. These include industries like iron & steel, defence, transportation, healthcare, etc.

2.    Research Career: This is another important profile where the metallurgists are involved in various types of research as regards the metals and their applicability. Jobs are available in different laboratories like material processing, mineral processing, material testing, among others. There are pioneering metallurgical laboratories like National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur under Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India, that employ such researchers. This is besides the research laboratories of large companies or PSUs. Many research jobs are also available in premier institutes of higher learning.

3.    Mining and Process Engineer: Mining professionals are involved in the process of extraction of metals from minerals; for example, extraction of iron from iron ore. Process engineers are specialists in suggesting systems that improve the quality of the final product for commercial application. These two job specialists together form the backbone of metallurgical engineering.

4.    Career in Thermodynamics: These professionals use the knowledge of thermodynamics to study and improve various products / systems / processes. The study of thermodynamics investigates differing aspects of heat and other forms of energy on the matter. Hence, thermodynamics has great application in metallurgical engineering as well.

Educational Qualification:

Dr A K Sen Gupta is the Founder and Convener, Higher Education Forum (HEF). He is former Director of SIES College of Management Studies (SIESCOMS), Navi Mumbai and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S P Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai. He may be contacted at aksengupta51@gmail.com or 9821128103.