Leila Sun’s work is a fantastic example of exactly what Materials Science is. Sun graduated with a BS in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) in 2022, and after working in ceramic feedstock processing for some time, she has found herself working as a packaging scientist for the Clorox company. 

“If you’ve ever bought anything in a package from the store, all the things you might consider with that package, I’ve probably also thought about in my day-to-day job,” Sun said. 

Everything from the look and feel of the packaging itself to the ability of the packaging to withstand falling onto the ground, Sun’s job covers it all, and even things you’ve never thought about, thanks to the work of packaging scientists like Sun. Everything, from transportation and accessibility to the sustainability of materials, is something considered by packaging scientists. 

These details, such as the feeling of a product in your hand, the way you pour Clorox bleach, or the assembly of the Clorox toilet wand, are not something most consumers think about, yet they are foundational in the way that people interact with products. This is a field in which materials science really shines, displaying exactly what MSE is. “How do you design a package that can survive so much off-gassing and also not leak everywhere?” Sun asked, summing up her current project and highlighting how dependent on materials science it is. 

Rather than thinking about the chemical itself that is off-gassing or the engineering of the container, Sun is focusing on the material of the packaging, trying to create packaging for a chemical that heavily off-gasses. 

Sun said she was “surprised” to discover how many material scientists companies like Clorox hire, but the benefits that MSE provided for her go beyond the specific skills she needs for her career. Like most alumni, Sun spoke to the ways the rigor of classes and training prepared her for work, but what made MSE particularly outstanding to Sun was the size of the major. “We felt like a super tight-knit little school of fish in a very large pond,” Sun said. The opportunity to know her professors, classmates, and the community that a smaller major like MSE fosters creates a positive and supportive environment that Sun considers a “selling point” of studying MSE. 

Sun also values the flexibility MSE offered, which, while not encompassing everything, opened many doors for her career. Opting not to pursue grad school, which would have significantly specialized her skills, Sun went to work in ceramics. She initially began working in a lab. After a few years, she left the "repetitive work" of a lab behind and joined the corporate world, moving into her current position at Clorox. After only a few years, Sun’s career already displays exactly what a degree in MSE can represent, as well as serves as a lesson in just what materials science is. 

Sun looks back fondly on her days at Tech and has advice for current or prospective students: enjoy all of it.

“Look at it from a macro point instead of a micro point,” Sun said, stressing that a single test can feel life-altering in the moment, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s the entire college experience that you remember." With so many fond memories of her time with MSE, Sun highlights the importance of community and curiosity in the college experience. “Curiosity will take you further than a grade of any kind,” she said. 

MSE is proud of alumni like Leila Sun. Not only does her job help to answer the ever-present question of “what exactly is material science,” but her experiences display that the community works so hard to foster is serving students well. We all look forward to seeing where Sun’s career continues to take her, and we will remember the importance of our material scientists every time we see a packaged product on a shelf. If you’re an MSE alumnus and interested in sharing where your career has taken you, visit our survey and let us know what you’re up to.