Assistant Research Scientist (PREP0004340) - #Faculty

Johns Hopkins University; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University in Boulder, CO seeks a PREP Research Associate to support collaboration with NIST on precision RF power measurement development.

You will develop test systems, write data acquisition code, and perform rigorous uncertainty analyses while documenting work for reproducibility and publication.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in electrical engineering, physics, optics, or a related field.
• Practical research experience using laboratory equipment (RF test equipment preferred).
• Familiarity with multivariate calculus, linear algebra, and statistics.
• Experience implementing novel algorithms for data analysis or modelling.
• Experience with complex software projects and version control (Git).

Responsibilities

• Develop test systems for precision RF power measurements in coaxial and waveguide connectors.
• Develop code to acquire data from measurement instruments.
• Perform measurements following established procedures.
• Develop and perform new measurement procedures.
• Analyze measurement uncertainty with careful, well-documented methods.
• Test data analysis and acquisition code with various RF power sensors.
• Document daily lab work so results are reproducible.
• Write papers, manuals and other documentation.

Skills

RF measurements

Data acquisition

Uncertainty analysis

Algorithms in data analysis

Git version control

Lab equipment

Education

Master's degree in EE/Physics/Optics

Tools

LabVIEW

MATLAB

Python

Git

Job description

PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields. Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration's scientific research.

Research Title: PREP0004340 - 672.01 - Develop techniques for precision RF power measurements

The work will entail: As the United State's National Metrology Institute, NIST is responsible for providing traceable precision measurements to industry. The goal of this project is to improve NIST's traceable radio-frequency (RF) power measurement capabilities. The work is partially supported by other-agency partners, who need NIST to deliver a power measurement system with the lowest possible uncertainties. This system also needs to be well-tested and easy to use. The successful candidate will develop and test this system, in conjunction with other staff.

U.S. Citizen Preferred

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Development of test systems for precision measurements of radio-frequency (RF) power in coaxial and waveguide connector types.

• Development of code to acquire data from measurement instruments.

• Performing measurements, following established procedures.

• Developing (and performing) new measurement procedures.

• A careful, detailed, and well-documented analysis of various sources of measurement uncertainty in the system.

• Extensive testing of the data analysis code, data acquisition code, with a variety of types of RF power sensors.

• Recording daily lab work at a level of detail where another person could reproduce the work.

• Writing papers, manuals, and other documentation.

• Master's degree in electrical engineering, physics, optics, or a related field.

• Practical research experience using laboratory equipment (preferably electrical/RF test equipment).

• Enough familiarity with multivariate calculus, linear algebra, and statistics to implement these concepts in a practical context and clearly articulate how they work.

• Experience implementing novel algorithms for data analysis or modelling in software (as opposed to using software developed by someone else in a situation that it was specifically designed for).

• Experience with complex software projects. A complex software project involves collaboration between more than 3 contributors, sustained effort over the course of at least one year, and use of version control software (for example, Git).

Salary: $80,000 - $89,000

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)

Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) (https://www.nist.gov/iaao/academic-affairs-office/nist-professional-research-experience-program-prep) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1: NIST Associates.

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

Total Rewards

Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors or demographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Pre-Employment Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at [e-mail]. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations at Johns Hopkins University for disabilities, medical conditions (including medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), accessibility, or religious reasons, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.

Background Checks

After receiving a conditional offer, the successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check including education verification. When deciding whether a candidate's conviction history is job-disqualifying, the University considers the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job being sought.

EEO is the Law

https://www.eeoc.gov/employees-job-applicants

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine.

Exceptions to the seasonal flu vaccine or COVID-19 vaccine (for SOM) requirement(s) may be provided to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs or medical conditions that preclude them from receiving the vaccine. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional vaccine requirements may apply, depending on your campus. Please contact the hiring department for more information.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those candidates who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

Job Type: Full Time