Postdoctoral Researcher – Development of Thin Film Nitride Materials

National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 77,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Pension benefits

403(b) employer match

Life/AD&D insurance

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Golden, CO, focused on thin film nitride materials. The role covers sputtering-based deposition, characterization, and collaboration on METALLIC platform projects within an autonomous semiconductor development suite.

The position requires a recent PhD and hands-on experience with vacuum deposition and materials analysis, with opportunities to publish and present findings while contributing to

Qualifications

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Experience with vacuum-based synthesis and thin film deposition.
• Experience with characterization methods like XRD, Raman, and photoluminescence.
• Solid understanding of inorganic thin films and wide bandgap materials.

Responsibilities

• Design and perform thin film synthesis and characterization experiments.
• Collaborate with scientists at NLR and partner institutions.
• Disseminate results via conference presentations and publications.
• Maintain and improve experimental equipment and data workflows.

Skills

Vacuum-based synthesis of thin films

Materials characterization (XRD, Raman

Inorganic nitride and wide-bandgap材料知识

Scientific writing and presentation

Education

PhD in materials science/physics or related field

Tools

Reactive sputtering

Pulsed laser deposition

Molecular beam epitaxy

Job description

Postdoctoral Researcher – Development of Thin Film Nitride Materials

Location: CO - Golden. Position Type: Postdoc (Fixed Term). Hours Per Week: 40. Working at NLR – the National Laboratory of the Rockies.

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado, and is the nation’s primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world‑class scientists, engineers, and experts accelerate energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost‑effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth. At NLR, you’ll find a mission‑driven environment supported by state‑of‑the‑art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well‑being.

Job Description

An experimental postdoctoral research position is available in NLR’s Materials Discovery and Development group. The position is focused on thin film synthesis and characterization of nitride materials by physical vapor deposition (sputtering). The position would support several collaborative basic science and applied development projects exploring emerging nitride thin films for applications including semiconductors, ultrawide bandgap semiconductors, piezo/ferroelectric materials and radiation detectors. One of the projects that this position would support is NLR’s next‑generation autonomous semiconductor development suite, created as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s METALLIC platform. Through METALLIC, NLR aims to accelerate the discovery of advanced thin film inorganic semiconductor materials to address critical U.S. supply chain challenges, with particular emphasis on semiconductor technologies involving Ga, Ge, Sc and other critical elements and materials. This position will focus on the development of sputter deposition processes and characterization workflows using this autonomous semiconductor suite. Other projects that would be supported by this position focus on the design, development and testing of novel ultrawide bandgap nitride materials for radiation detection and piezoelectric/ferroelectric devices. As a part of both projects, the successful candidate will design and perform thin film synthesis and characterization experiments, collaborate with other scientists and engineers at NLR and at partner institutions, and disseminate results in the form of conference presentations and scientific publications. The job duties would also include setting up and maintaining existing experimental equipment and improving/creating data collection and analysis tools.

Basic Qualifications

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Prior hands‑on experience with vacuum‑based synthesis of functional thin film materials, using physical vapor deposition, such as reactive sputtering, pulsed laser deposition, or molecular beam epitaxy.
• Hands‑on experience with in‑depth knowledge of one or several materials characterization methods, such as x‑ray diffraction/scattering, optoelectronic measurements (photoluminescence, Raman, transport), electrical characterization (piezo‑ or ferroelectric characterization, etc.).
• Strong knowledge of inorganic thin films and semiconductor materials, particularly oxides, nitrides, wide band gap semiconductors, dielectrics, piezoelectrics/ferroelectrics, or related material systems.
• Established track record in scientific writing, presentation, publishing, and communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven ability to maintain complex synthesis and characterization instruments, particularly vacuum‑based equipment.
• Experience with simple device fabrication in a cleanroom setting (photolithography, etching, electron beam evaporation, etc.).
• Prior experience with automated, autonomous, and high‑throughput experimental (combinatorial) research methods and techniques.
• Active computer skills in programming (e.g., Python, LabView, C/Igor Pro, etc.), statistical data analysis, and/or software development.
• Good understanding of solid‑state chemistry, crystallography, materials design principles and structure‑property relationships in inorganic materials.
• Strong motivation, ability to work on collaborative projects, ability to balance different types of tasks and deadlines.

Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full‑time 40 hours per week)

Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400.

NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short‑term disability insurance*
• Pension benefits*
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*
• Life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Personal time off (PTO) and sick leave
• Paid holidays

NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance‑, merit‑, and achievement‑based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. * Based on eligibility rules.

Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD‑12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug‑free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug‑Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre‑employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre‑employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre‑employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

E‑Verify

E‑Verify www.dhs.gov/E‑Verify. For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish. E‑Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E‑Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.

About NLR

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for critical minerals, energy innovation, and energy security. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, Fairbanks, Alaska, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NLR bridges foundational research with practical applications to develop and bring to scale new energy materials and technologies that lower energy costs, drive economic growth, and deliver abundant and reliable energy. NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All candidates must be authorized to access the facility per DOE rules and guidance within a reasonable time frame for the specified position in order to be considered for an interview and for hiring. DOE rules for site access during the interview process depend on whether the candidate is interviewed on‑site, off‑site, or via telephone or videoconference. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD‑12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Additionally, DOE contractor employees are prohibited from participating in certain Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs (FGTRPs). If a candidate is currently participating in an FGTRP, they will be required to disclose their participation after receiving an offer of employment and may be required to disengage from participation in the FGTRP prior to commencing employment. Any offer of employment is conditional on the ability to obtain work authorization and to be granted access to NLR by the Department of Energy (DOE).