Advanced Electron Microscopy Research Scientist

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks an Advanced Electron Microscopy Research Scientist to develop and apply environmental TEM (ETEM) methods for dynamic processes in semiconductor, quantum, catalytic, and energy-related materials under realistic operating conditions.

The role emphasizes in-situ experiments, multimodal TEM techniques, and the development of quantitative analysis tools, with collaboration across internal and external partners and dissemination through

Qualifications

• Engineering degree with ABET accreditation or equivalent; calculus and physics/chemistry coursework in engineering sciences.
• Professional registration or licensure (EI/EIT/PE) by a state or equivalent; or passing FE exam.
• Combination of graduate education and specialized experience as defined by OPM standards.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement in-situ and operando experiments using gas and liquid environmental cells.
• Perform multimodal measurements combining imaging, diffraction, and analytical spectroscopy.
• Develop quantitative analysis methods for large multidimensional datasets.
• Correlate structural, chemical, and functional changes at material interfaces.
• Support development of new measurement capabilities and experimental protocols.
• Collaborate with internal and external research partners; disseminate results via peer-reviewed publications and presentations.

Skills

TEM operation

TEM sample prep

TEM data interpretation

Semiconductor materials TEM

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Professional registration (EI/EIT/PE)

FE exam or equivalent licensure

Job description

Summary

Seeking an Advanced Electron Microscopy Research Scientist whose major duties would include developing and applying advanced environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) methods to investigate dynamic processes in semiconductor, quantum, catalytic, and energy-related materials under realistic operating conditions. This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.

Duties

Duties include: Designing and implementing in-situ and operando experiments using gas and liquid environmental cells. Performing multimodal measurements combining imaging, diffraction, and analytical spectroscopy Developing quantitative analysis methods for large multidimensional datasets. Correlating structural, chemical, and functional changes at material interfaces. Supporting the development of new measurement capabilities and experimental protocols. Collaborating with internal and external research partners, and disseminating results through peer-reviewed publications and presentations. Disseminating results through peer reviewed publications and presentations.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress‑strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- college‑level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering‑type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) In addition to the basic requirements, you must also meet one of the following requirements: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-9 (ZP-II at NIST). Specialized experience is defined as: 1) Experience operating transmission electron microscopy (TEM) instrumentation, 2) Experience preparing specimens and acquiring and interpreting TEM data, 3) Experience with semiconductor and quantum materials characterization using TEM OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree as defined in the basic requirements OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as defined in the additional requirements. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration