Assistant Research Scientist (PREP0005233) - #Faculty

Johns Hopkins University; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 63,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University in Gaithersburg, MD, seeks a PREP Research Associate to support the PREP program alongside NIST. The role focuses on failure analysis and polymer durability in immersion cooling, using ATR-FTIR, Raman, AFM, confocal microscopy, and tensile testing to develop test methods and predictive models.

Requirements include a master's degree in materials science, mechanical or chemical engineering with at least 3 years of relevant research, experience in multilayer polymer

Qualifications

• Master's degree in materials science, mechanical, or chemical engineering with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
• 3+ years of research experience in multilayer failure analysis, surface/interface characterization, and polymer durability assessment.
• 3+ years of experience applying machine learning, deep learning, and other AI methods to polymer degradation and service-life prediction.
• Extensive hands-on experience with characterization of multilayer polymeric materials, including microscopy, spectroscopy, and mechanical/adhesion properties.

Responsibilities

• Designing and developing a testbed for accelerated multi-stress testing of materials used in immersion cooling systems.
• Conducting chemical, physical, and mechanical characterization of polymer components during testing.
• Evaluating long-term durability and developing service-life prediction models.
• Analyzing data, presenting findings, and preparing test protocols, standards, reports, and publications.

Skills

Polymer durability

Machine learning

Data analysis

Python

R

Origin

Microscopy

Spectroscopy

Tensile testing

Education

Master's degree in materials science or related engineering

Tools

ATR-FTIR

Raman spectroscopy

AFM

Confocal microscopy

Tensile tester

Job description

PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and thus requires that such institutions be the recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.

Research Title: Long-Term Materials Durability in Immersion Cooling

The work will entail:

PREP Researcher associate will continue to conduct research on failure analysis and degradation mechanism study of polymer exposed to accelerated laboratory testing environments and operation conditions. Understanding the degradation mechanism of polymeric components used in immersion cooling during services is critical to the development and assurance of AI physical Infrastructure. In this study, non-destructive and destructive techniques will be developed for the failure analysis and degradation mechanism of polymeric components in aged samples after accelerated multi-stress testing. The mechanisms of chemical, physical, and mechanical degradation will be studied using spectroscopic, microscopic, and mechanical techniques, such as attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), micro-IR, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and tensile tester. The results will be used to understand the root causes of polymer failure, providing a scientific basis for test method development, material selection, and product quality assurance AI physical Infrastructure.

The candidate will be responsible for activities associated

1) designing and developing a testbed for accelerated multi-stress testing of materials used in immersion cooling systems, including thermal, chemical, mechanical, electrical, and hygrothermal cycling,

2) conducting chemical, physical, and mechanical characterization of polymer components used in immersion cooling systems during accelerated multi-stress testing.

3) evaluating the long-term durability and reliability of immersion cooling systems and developing service-life prediction models for various polymer components.

4) analyzing and interpreting experimental data; presenting research findings; and preparing test protocols, technical standards, reports, and peer-reviewed journal publications.

• U.S. Citizenship preferred.
• A master's degree in materials science and engineering, mechanical, or chemical engineering background, with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
• 3+ years of research experience in multilayer failure analysis, surface/interface characterization, and polymer durability assessment.
• 3+ years of experience applying machine learning, deep learning, and other AI methods to polymer degradation and service-life prediction.
• Extensive hands‑on experience with characterization of multilayer polymeric materials, including microscopy (confocal microscopy, AFM), spectroscopy (ATR‑FTIR, Raman, UV‑Vis) and mechanical and adhesion properties
• Proven ability to develop predictive models for the degradation, durability, and service‑life performance of polymer components.
• Advanced proficiency in Python, R (including package development), and Origin for end‑to‑end data management, processing, visualization, and modeling.
• Familiarity with international testing standards (e.g., ASTM, ISO, IEEE) for polymers, with demonstrated ability to develop, validate, and document new or modified test methods.

Salary: $62,500 - $70,000

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 the 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. By applying to a CHIPS‑funded PREP opportunity, you also acknowledge that participation in the project requires signing a Non‑Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to beginning any work.

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 upon 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