Becoming an active member of ASM International is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, but I can’t say that I always knew that it would turn out this way. Joining a professional society was always something my professors in my department encouraged their students to do, but when I joined as an undergraduate student I really didn’t know what to expect.  I was lucky to be at a school (Lehigh University) that had a pretty active student chapter, and going to the occasional local chapter meeting was okay. But, I really wasn’t sure how my involvement with ASM would grow beyond being yet another student activity to put on my resume. Now, after 5 years of graduate school and a few years out into the “real world”, I can honestly say that ASM is my professional home.

I was fortunate in my graduate career to go to ASM conferences to give papers and hear other people talk about their work in materials science. I met professionals from all across the country and the world, and I began to see ASM as a community of people in my field with common interests and common goals. I realized that ASM is filled with people who see their career in materials science as more than a way to pay their bills, but rather a way to make a difference in the world. Whether it’s developing new materials to build fuel cells, capitalizing on the technological promise of nanotechnology, or helping to excite the minds of the next generation of materials scientists as part of the ASM Foundation’s Materials Camp, ASM is home to some of the best minds in the materials world and to cutting edge materials technology.

But some of the reasons why I’m an active member of ASM International are much less grandiose. My first job out of school was in Albuquerque, a long way from the east coast where I grew up and went to school. Involvement in the local chapter helped me feel more comfortable in my new home, and quickly meet new colleagues and make new friends. I’m back in Pittsburgh now, but one of the first things I did when I arrived here was contact the local chapter to let them know I’m around. One of the most difficult things to do as a student is to envision what your place in the materials field might be someday, particularly because you get a mere glimpse of it while you’re in school. ASM provides you the connection to the materials world that you need to succeed in this ever expanding global marketplace and can help you whether you’re looking for a new job or a new customer. And even though ASM has plenty to offer passive and active members alike, I am convinced that getting involved at any level of the society will open many doors you never knew were there.

~ Matthew Perricone - RJ Lee Group, PA