Postdoctoral Appointee - Superconducting Single-Photon Devices for Quantum Information Science

argonne; Lemont (IL); On-site; USD 73,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

Argonne National Laboratory seeks a postdoctoral researcher to advance multipixel single-photon camera technology and multiplexed readout for quantum information science.

The role spans design, fabrication, and cryogenic testing of superconducting devices, with opportunities to impact quantum networking, communications, and computing at a premier national lab.

Candidates should have a PhD in physics or related field and experience with low-temperature measurements and superconducting detectors.

Qualifications

• Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD in physics, electrical engineering, materials science, or related field.
• Experience with superconducting devices or related quantum/low-temperature technologies.
• Proficiency in low-noise cryogenic measurement techniques spanning millikelvin to a few kelvin.
• Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Design and fabricate superconducting devices leveraging kinetic inductance in thin films.
• Develop and characterize SNSPDs using NbN, TiN, NbTiN for high detection efficiency.
• Implement scalable readout architectures for nanowire arrays using hTron and fTron.
• Perform low-noise cryogenic measurements to assess performance.
• Refine fabrication processes and readout circuit designs based on results.
• Contribute to instrument systems for solid-state single-photon emitters characterization.

Skills

Cryogenic measurements

Superconducting device design

Nanofabrication

Education

PhD in physics / electrical engineering / materials science

Tools

Sonnet

HFSS

Lumerical

Job description

Argonne National Laboratory invites applications for a postdoctoral research position in experimental physics and superconducting device development, focused on advancing multipixel single-photon camera technology and multiplexed readout systems for quantum information science applications.

In this role, you will join a multidisciplinary team spanning several Argonne divisions and contribute to the design, fabrication, and characterization of superconducting devices based on high kinetic inductance materials. This position offers a unique opportunity to help build a new research capability with potential impact across quantum networking, communications, and computing.

Research Focus

• Design and fabricate superconducting devices that leverage the nonlinear kinetic inductance of thin superconducting films, including microwave resonators for frequency-domain multiplexed readout of single-photon detectors using kinetic inductance current sensors
• Develop and characterize superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) using high kinetic inductance materials such as NbN, TiN, and NbTiN, with the goal of achieving high detection efficiency from visible to telecom wavelengths
• Implement and evaluate scalable readout architectures for nanowire arrays, including multiplexing approaches based on superconducting cryogenic switches such as hTron and fTron
• Perform low-noise cryogenic measurements to assess device performance, including timing jitter, dark count rate, detection efficiency, and resonator quality factors
• Rapidly refine fabrication processes and readout circuit designs based on device characterization results and electromagnetic simulations
• Contribute to the development of integrated instrument systems for the characterization of solid-state single-photon emitters, including photon correlation and spectroscopy measurements

About the Team

You will become part of a highly collaborative team of physicists and engineers from Argonne's High Energy Physics (HEP), X-ray Science (XSD), and Materials Science (MSD) divisions. Together, the team brings expertise in:

• Superconducting detector arrays
• Thin-film materials development
• Nanofabrication
• Cryogenic instrumentation
• Quantum communications
• Solid-state quantum emitter systems

This project benefits from Argonne's world-class research infrastructure, including:

• Dilution refrigerators
• Adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators
• Low-noise DC and RF measurement systems
• Advanced cleanroom fabrication facilities, including the Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM)

Why Join Argonne

This is an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of superconducting devices, quantum photonics, and advanced instrumentation. You will work in a collaborative national laboratory environment with access to exceptional facilities, expert colleagues, and the chance to help shape technologies with broad relevance to future quantum systems.

Position Requirements

• Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (within the last 0-5 years) in field of physics, electrical engineering, materials science, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience with superconducting devices or related quantum or low-temperature technologies, particularly in device design, fabrication, and/or measurement
• Proficiency in low-noise cryogenic measurement techniques spanning millikelvin to few-kelvin temperatures
• Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), transition-edge sensors (TESs), or kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs)
• Experience with cleanroom microfabrication processes, including thin-film deposition (e.g., magnetron sputtering), electron-beam or optical lithography, and dry/wet etching
• Familiarity with microwave resonator design, characterization, and RF/microwave measurement techniques
• Experience with electromagnetic simulation tools such as Sonnet, Ansys HFSS, Lumerical, or similar platforms
• Experience with data acquisition, instrument control, and data analysis in Python or similar languages
• Knowledge of quantum optics measurements such as photon correlation functions or photon-number-resolved detection
• Familiarity with aspects of condensed matter and BCS superconductivity theory applicable to high kinetic inductance superconducting materials

Job Family

Postdoctoral

Job Profile

Postdoctoral Appointee

Worker Type

Long-Term (Fixed Term)

Time Type

Full time

The expected hiring range for this position is $72,879.00-$121,465.00.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total