THE MELODIES OF MATERIALS
Materials science is at the heart of innovation, shaping the tools and technologies of our modern world. Let's dive into the intricacies behind the materials that define the music and sounds of our lives.
8/13/2025 ⋅ By Rishi Pai ⋅ 8 min read
From Student to Curriculum Director: A Conversation with Eric Cole at the 2025 ASM Eisenman Materials Camp
Eric Cole and I at the ASM International Headquarters, "The Dome"
During my time at the 2025 ASM Eisenman Materials Camp, I had the privilege of speaking with Eric Cole, R&D (Research and Development) Manager at Carpenter Technology Corporation and the 2025 Eisenman Camp Curriculum Director, for which I am forever grateful. Our conversation wasn’t just a glance into his professional journey, it was also a chance to understand how materials science education has evolved over the last two decades, and how curiosity at a summer camp can spark a lifelong career. Eric and I sat down here at ASM International’s headquarters during the Eisenman Camp, where I spent the week learning materials science through hands-on labs and failure analysis projects. His story begins in a place that’s similar to where I am now, the 2007 Eisenman Camp.
Where It All Started
Eric’s first “hard introduction” to materials science came when he was a high school student at the very camp he now helps lead. Back then, the experience was a blend of theory and practice: working in the lab on real specimens, running tests, and connecting those physical observations to the iron-carbon phase diagram and other theoretical concepts.
It was here that he realized materials science wasn’t just abstract, it was tactile, visual, and deeply connected to problem-solving. That early spark led him toward a career centered on metals, from steel mills to advanced alloy development.
Since that 2007 camp, the structure of Eisenman has remained familiar but still rooted in teaching students through failure analysis of real-world broken components. But Eric explained that one major change is the shift away from lecture-heavy days toward interactive, hands-on learning.
Instead of long PowerPoints, students now spend more time in the lab and in discussions, a change Eric feels keeps engagement high and mirrors how engineers and scientists work in the real world. I am grateful for this change, because I do believe that real science happens in the lab setting. The opportunities that I had in this camp working hands-on under the mentorship of a number of materials science professionals was an experience I will never forget.
A Career in Metals and Testing
Today, Eric manages a metallurgical lab focused on developing next-generation alloys and refining existing ones to meet new performance demands. His team supports industries from aerospace to medical devices, tackling challenges like:
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Improving fatigue strength in helicopter components
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Reducing cobalt in medical alloys to address health concerns
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Optimizing alloy performance without reinventing the entire system
His personal passion still lies in materials testing: not just running the tests, but teaching others how to interpret results and understand the nuances behind the data.
What’s Exciting in the Field Right Now
When I asked Eric about current breakthroughs, additive manufacturing immediately came up. In the last decade, the technology has matured to the point where aerospace companies like GE are producing real, flight-ready components. While it still has room to grow before becoming mainstream, Eric sees it as an area with major long-term potential.
Another, perhaps quieter, area of innovation is pushing the limits of existing alloys. Instead of always designing entirely new materials, companies are finding ways to make tried-and-true alloys perform beyond their original capabilities, a more sustainable and often faster route to meeting industry needs.
The Role of Sustainability
Sustainability is not just a buzzword in Eric’s work, it’s built significantly into the manufacturing process. Carpenter Technology, as a primary metals producer, relies on both high-quality raw materials and recycled scrap. Process optimization, energy conservation, and material reuse are essential for both cost efficiency and reducing environmental impact. It’s a reminder that sustainability in materials science isn’t limited to “green” materials, it’s also about refining industrial processes for a cleaner, more efficient future.
My Takeaways
As someone who once stood exactly where I am, a student at Eisenman, Eric offered simple but impactful advice: meet more people in the field. Whether it’s shadowing a professional for a day, visiting a university materials science department, or attending talks, those experiences help you truly understand what materials science is about and where your interests might fit in.
Speaking with Eric Cole felt a bit like looking at a possible future version of myself. Here’s someone who discovered materials science at the same camp I’m in now, who kept following his curiosity until it became a career at the forefront of metals R&D.
His journey reinforces what I learnt that week, that materials science is a discipline you live through experiments, failures, and iterative improvements, not just textbooks. And like any good alloy, success in this field seems to come from combining technical skill with the ability to connect with people, share knowledge, and keep learning.
If the Eisenman Camp has taught me anything so far, it’s that the world is full of broken parts waiting to be understood, improved, and rebuilt. And thanks to conversations like the one I had with Eric Cole, I’m even more excited to be part of the next generation that takes on that challenge. I greatly hope to get there in my materials science career some day, but until dhin . . . stay upbeat and stay tuned.