Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0004289)

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. seeks a PREP Research Associate based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, to engage in cutting-edge research in integrated photonics for quantum sensing. Candidates should possess a PhD in physics or related field and over 5 years of experience in the field. The position emphasizes collaborative work, technical skills in design and fabrication, and effective communication. A salary range of $75,000 - $85,000 is offered, along with a focus on diverse and innovative research environments.

Qualifications

• PhD in physics, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience with integrated photonics.
• Familiarity with software like COMSOL or Lumerical.
• Knowledge of nanofabrication techniques such as EBL and LPCVD.
• Experience with optical measurement techniques.

Responsibilities

• Analyze heterogeneous data sources.
• Iterate device designs and collaborate with team.
• Present results at meetings and publish findings.
• Execute design, fabricate, and test workflow.

Skills

Electromagnetics simulation software (COMSOL, Lumerical)

Nanofabrication techniques (EBL, LPCVD)

Optical measurement techniques

Data analysis and prototype development

Strong oral and written communication skills

Education

PhD in physics, electrical engineering, or related field

Job description

PREP Research Associate

Salary: $75,000 - $85,000

Description

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: Integrated Photonics for Quantum Sensing. The work will entail designing, fabricating, and/or testing integrated photonics for one or more of the following application areas: Meta‑optics for coupling to free‑space optical modes, e.g., interfaces to atomic systems; High‑Q optical microcavities for laser frequency stabilization and precision sensing; Electro‑optics for light modulation and/or phase control; Robust test structures for characterizing nanofabrication accuracy, identifying optical losses, etc. This work will be highly collaborative with interactions spanning multiple labs across NIST. The postdoc will work with a team to carry out the design/fabricate/test workflow, where design entails simulating integrated photonic structures to estimate optical properties such as loss and dispersion, and creating GDS layouts of designs; fabricate entails using tools supported by the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, such as EBL and LPCVD, to realize designed structures; and test entails performing measurements of the fabricated structure’s optical properties using lasers, spectrometers, etc.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze heterogeneous data sources.
• Use analysis to iterate device designs and collaborate with others to do so.
• Present results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.
• Publish results in the relevant scientific literature when appropriate.
• Execute design, fabricate, and test workflow as described above.

U.S. Citizen Preferred.

Qualifications

• PhD in physics, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience, as evidenced by publications or recommendations, with integrated photonics.
• Familiarity with electromagnetics simulation software such as COMSOL or Lumerical.
• Familiarity with nanofabrication techniques such as EBL and LPCVD.
• Familiarity with optical measurement techniques for loss, dispersion, noise, etc.
• Ability to develop prototypes of tools needed to analyze data.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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 characteristic. 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 that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Background Checks

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre‑employment background check including education verification.