thumb|Attendees at the International Union of Crystallographers meeting in 1951
A crystallographer is a type of scientist who practices crystallography, in other words, who studies crystals.
Career paths
The work of crystallographers spans several academic disciplines, including the life sciences, chemistry, physics, and materials science.
In the horological industry, crystallographers conduct studies of nonmetallic minerals and research for the development and repair of grinding wheels, diamond tools and dies, and fabrication of jeweled bearings.
Most working crystallographers have a graduate degree. As of 2024, the Young Crystallographers have about 250 members. The majority of these scientists worked in Gauteng. However, as of the 2010s, the largest demand for crystallographers actually comes from the medical and life sciences.