Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

Research and new-product development.

Failure investigation, literature surveys, developing technology roadmaps, examination of metallurgical samples, ideas generation, attendance at conferences and trade fairs, visits to industry forums. Modelling degradation and wear, data interpretation. Maintaining contact with academic partners.

See above under playing with interesting metals.

The rail industry is fascinating too.

As a specialist metallurgist by background, re-learning steel has been challenging. The job also requires a lot of learning, as much of the nuance of what we do is based on years of experience in the sector that I simply don't have yet.

This line of work both directly uses my skillset (and lets me play with interesting metals), and also contributes to UK manufacturing, a sector I am proud to support given its challenging position.

Metallurgy primarily, but also data analysis, mathematical modelling, and the interpersonal skills to create and maintain relationships with clients and academic and industry partners.

Postdoc still in Sheffield 2014-2016, followed by a move to British Steel in July 2016. After 6 months in Rail Technologies I moved to R&D.

More of the same, onwards and upwards.

Developing industrial experience and contacts is really important, a more industrially focussed postdoc added a lot to my rather theoretical PhD.

Interpersonal skills, and confidence speaking and setting forwards viewpoints, are also very important.