Postdoctoral Research Associate (Hokmabadi)

University of North Carolina Charlotte; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 50,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of North Carolina Charlotte is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead experimental efforts on next-generation optoelectronic devices. This role involves micro- and nano-fabrication, optical bench design, and advanced testing.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in a relevant field and extensive experience in cleanroom fabrication and optical design. This is a full-time temporary position located in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in cleanroom fabrication techniques.
• Strong understanding of lithography and optical design.
• Demonstrated success in constructing and aligning optical bench setups.

Responsibilities

• Lead fabrication efforts for metamaterial structures and semiconductor laser arrays.
• Conduct advanced testing and characterization of optoelectronic devices.
• Prepare manuscripts for high-impact journals and conferences.

Skills

Micro- and nano-fabrication

Optical testing skills

Numerical modeling

Hands-on experience in a cleanroom

Education

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Sciences, or Materials Science

Tools

COMSOL Multiphysics

Ansys Lumerical FDTD

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Associate (Hokmabadi)

Position Number: POST40
Working Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate (Hokmabadi)
Division: Academic Affairs
Department: College of Engineering (Col)
Work Unit: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Work Location: EPIC and Grigg
Employment Type: Temporary - Full-time
Hours per week: 40
Pay Rate: $50,000-$54,000

Position Summary

The Hokmabadi Research Lab at UNC Charlotte seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead experimental and fabrication efforts on next-generation optoelectronic devices. Responsibilities include micro- and nano‑fabrication, custom design and construction of free‑space optical benches, numerical modeling, and dissemination of research findings. The scope is prepared for a full‑time academic or research career.

Responsibilities & Duties

As a Postdoctoral Fellow, you will work under supervision of a faculty mentor and contribute to research instruction, publication, and laboratory operations.

• Execute full‑cycle micro‑ and nano‑fabrication processes to realize complex metamaterial structures, subwavelength features, and semiconductor laser arrays.
• Utilize advanced lithography techniques, including standard photolithography and high‑precision electron‑beam/nano‑lithography.
• Lead thin‑film depositions using e‑beam evaporation and sputtering systems for both dielectrics and metals.
• Develop and optimize recipe parameters for anisotropic dry etching (e.g., RIE, ICP‑RIE) and targeted wet chemical etching workflows.
• Independently engineer, align, and construct custom free‑space and fiber‑coupled optical bench test setups from scratch on laboratory breadboards.
• Conduct advanced experimental testing and optoelectronic characterization of metamaterials and semiconductor lasers (including spectrum mapping, L‑I‑V curves, near/far‑field beam profiling, and optical isolation tracking).
• Troubleshoot, maintain, and automate laboratory instrumentation (spectrometers, detectors, tunable laser sources, RF equipment).
• Perform theoretical design and finite‑element modeling of electromagnetic fields, spatial phase profiles, and optical cavity layouts using industry‑standard simulation software (COMSOL Multiphysics, Ansys Lumerical FDTD).
• Analyze complex experimental data and utilize insights to iteratively optimize device architectures.
• Prepare high‑quality manuscripts for submission to peer‑reviewed high‑impact journals and present findings at major optics conferences.
• Assist Dr. Hokmabadi in mentoring Ph.D., Master’s, and undergraduate students in cleanroom protocols and bench safety.

Minimum Experience and Education

• Recently (within the last eight years) awarded a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Sciences, Materials Science or equivalent doctorate in closely related discipline (Sc.D., M.D.).
• Extensive, proven hands‑on experience working inside a Class 100/1000 micro/nano‑fabrication cleanroom facility; deep expertise in lithography, e‑beam evaporation, sputtering, and dry/wet etching.
• Demonstrated success in designing, constructing, and precision‑aligning free‑space optical bench components.
• Robust prior experience with numerical modeling and design of optical or electromagnetic wave structures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct, prior hands‑on experience handling and testing active semiconductor laser devices (e.g., microring lasers, VCSELs, laser arrays). Candidates with strong optical testing skills in passive systems who demonstrate a strong capability to learn active laser physics will also be considered.
• Experience with instrumentation automation and data acquisition tools such as Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW.

Other Information

Criminal background check will be conducted for finalists. This position is open to all qualified candidates.