Naomi Clayman

You don't have to pigeonhole yourself into one line of work. Three years into my career at Exponent, I'm actively solving science problems that make a difference right now and in the future.  

Our Work Matters to The World

When COVID hit, there was so much happening all at once in the medical device space. The world needed pandemic diagnostic products, and we are materials experts. I felt like I was really helping people by making sure the plastics worked in these products as they should, that adhesives were functioning and that devices weren't falling apart. We all needed these to work. It was so relevant and topical. 

I didn't know much about scientific consulting before I took this job. After doing five years of research for my Ph.D. in chemistry from Stanford, I knew I wanted to explore avenues beyond academics and R&D research. While I really enjoyed my research on materials, I didn't feel like I was having a broad, day-to-day impact. I also wasn't excited about working for a company where I'd be focused on a single problem for a long time. I needed something more stimulating. So, I called up a friend from grad school and said, "Your job sounds cool, what do you do?" and the rest is history. 

It's one of the most exciting things about working here; I'm never bored.

At Exponent, I've had exposure to so many different industries beyond optimizing plastics in products; I'm working on five or six projects at once. Products are evolving so quickly, and so many components that were once metal are now becoming plastic. They're malleable, you can 3-D print them, and there are a variety of ways to manufacture plastic components. Since there are so many uses; plastics are evolving everywhere, and it's an exciting space to be in. Now, as a consumer, I also really think about the objects around me in a different way than I did before.  

I can be my authentic self at Exponent. 

There are women-empowering-women seminars, DEI workshops, and social activities. I'm collaborating daily with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and countries, working through problems on consumer electronics, medical devices, and more.  

It's rare that a problem falls squarely in one person's wheelhouse. If something breaks, a client is going to call us up and say, "this thing broke." They don't identify it as a chemistry problem or electrical engineering issue. They just call us about a broken thing. So, having the opportunity to collaborate closely with all these other practices, different people, and different disciplines really sets Exponent apart.

Consultants Own Their Days

Our lab capabilities are spread out across the country and world, so I'm often in communication with other offices that have different lab instruments. For example, companies often have manufacturing lines in Asia, so they'll send samples to our Shanghai or Hong Kong offices. We'll work in collaboration with those teams on testing materials, taking photographs, and analyzing data to deliver insights for our clients.  

We all want each other to succeed.

I have flexibility in my job, and I value that. My life outside of work is important to me. It feels good to be career-driven while also prioritizing a healthy work-life balance.