The MIT Women's Initiative Logo

Home Students Teachers Presenters Sponsors Contact Us

Careers in STEM

Every moment of every day, you are seeing the work of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. Your phone, your computer, the building you go to school in, your clothes. Absolutely everything was the work of dedicated STEM professionals!

Don't believe it? Keep reading to see for yourself!

Engineering

AEROSPACE

Aerospace engineers design, analyze, and model all things that fly. So every time you get on an airplane, you are experiencing the handiwork of an aerospace engineer.



BIOLOGICAL

Biological engineers use engineering tools and approaches to solve problems in the life sciences. When you eat food or take medicine, it is likely that a biological engineer has been working to find ways to make that food or medicine even better for you!


CHEMICAL

Chemical engineers use their understanding of chemistry and math to design useful products and processes. Your make-up, the shampoo you use, the medicine you take when you're sick. It was all designed by a chemical engineer!



CIVIL

Civil engineers design, construct, and maintain buildings, roads, bridges, and other structures. So every building you see, from your school to your doctor's office was designed by a civil engineer!



COMPUTER

Computer engineers create computer programs that allow technology you use to help you complete every day tasks. That means every time you play Angry Birds on your phone or look at Facebook on your computer, you are seeing the work of a computer engineer!



ELECTRICAL

Electrical engineers design objects and systems that are electronic, or involve electricity and power. When you turn your lights on in the morning, or play Super Mario Smash Brothers, you are interacting with the work of an electrical engineer!



ENVIRONMENTAL

Environmental engineers work to maintain the natural environment as our world becomes more and more developed. This can be anything from improving air or water quality to waste treatment or study of how animals are affected by man-made things!



MATERIALS

Materials engineers develop creative solutions to manufacture materials that are new and innovative. This could be anything from the titanium alloys used in outer space to the new fabrics designed to keep the body temperature of rescue workers steady, or even your new ski boots, and the next big thing could be designed by you!



MECHANICAL

Mechanical engineering is the analysis, design, and manufacturing of mechanical systems. In other words, if something moves or uses energy, a mechanical engineer probably helped to make it!




And these aren't the only types of engineers! To learn more about more engineering fields, check out this description of various fields of engineering!

Science and Math

BIOLOGIST

Biologists study the natural world. They are involved in finding cures for diseases, creating new biotechnologies, conserving endangered animals and plants, and more!



CHEMIST

Chemists use their knowledge of chemistry to discover new medicines to treat diseases, synthesize materials like paint and plastic, protect the environment, and more!




PHYSICIST

Physicists apply their knowledge of math and physics to study a variety of physical phenomena, such as sub-atomic particles, the expansion of the universe, and Earth's gravitational and magnetic fields. They work with mathematicians, engineers, and more to build rockets, computer hardware, and more!



MATHEMATICIAN

Mathematicians develop new math theories and concepts and solve fascinating math problems. Their work can be applied to astronomy, physics, engineering, and more!



GEOLOGIST

Geologists study the processes and history of the Earth, such as volcanic eruptions, plate tectonics, the formation of minerals, and climatic conditions in different eras of Earth's history.



ASTRONOMER

Astronomers use their knowledge of math and physics to study objects in the night sky -- like stars, galaxies, planets, moons, comets, and more!



MIT

Last Updated: November 3, 2013