Sensor Scientist

Brookhaven National Laboratory; Upton (AL); On-site; USD 123,000 - 209,000; Part time

Job summary

Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Detectors R&D team within NSLS-II seeks a part-time Research Staff scientist to lead and contribute to advanced x-ray detector research, with emphasis on diamond-based detectors, thin diamond detectors, novel contacts, and fast, radiation-tolerant readout for beamline environments.

You will collaborate with beamline scientists and external partners, pursue external funding, publish results, and help shape the future of detector technology at NSLS-II and across

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 12+ years (or Master’s 9+ years; PhD with 4+ post‑PhD) in physics or closely related field.
• Proven leadership in detector R&D.
• Experience with semiconductor radiation detectors and x-ray detector physics.
• Diamond detector development expertise (thin detectors, contacts, charge transport).
• Ability to lead independent research and collaborate on multi-investigator programs.
• Strong publications and presentations in the field.
• Experience securing externally funded detector projects.
• Ability to collaborate across beamline scientists, engineers, and partners.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration capability.
• Ability to commit ~50–60% effort in a part-time role.

Responsibilities

• Lead selected R&D efforts in advanced x-ray detector science, focusing on diamond-based detectors.
• Define and carry out R&D on thin diamond detectors, electrode architectures, and charge collection.
• Develop detector concepts for high flux, speed, dynamic range, and harsh environments.
• Collaborate with NSLS-II beamlines to identify detector needs and translate them into capabilities.
• Lead design, testing, characterization, and deployment of detector hardware and methods.
• Build collaborations across detector development, materials, microfabrication, electronics, and users.
• Contribute to external funding proposals for detector R&D.
• Publish results and present at conferences and workshops.
• Identify future directions in diamond and other detector technologies for NSLS-II.

Skills

Detector R&D leadership

Diamond detector development

X-ray detector physics

Beamline collaboration

External proposal experience

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Scientific communication

Education

Bachelor’s + 12+ years

Master’s + 9+ years

Ph.D. in physics or related

4+ years post-PhD

Job description

The Detectors R&D team in the Data Acquisition & Detectors group within the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS-II) at Brookhaven National Laboratory is seeking an exceptional scientist for a part-time Research Staff position focused on advanced x-ray detector research and development. The successful candidate will contribute scientific leadership in conceiving, developing, and advancing next-generation x-ray detector technologies for synchrotron applications, with particular emphasis on diamond-based detectors. Areas of emphasis include thin diamond x-ray detectors, novel contact structures, advanced fabrication and packaging strategies, detector architectures for demanding beamline environments, and methods to improve sensitivity, speed, radiation tolerance, and spatial resolution. The successful candidate will also help define future directions in detector science at NSLS-II by identifying opportunities beyond diamond, including other emerging detector materials, device structures, and readout concepts relevant to next-generation x-ray science.

This part-time position provides an opportunity to conduct both basic and applied detector research in collaboration with NSLS-II beamline scientists, Brookhaven researchers, DOE programs, universities, and external partners. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute leadership to independent and collaborative R&D efforts, help pursue externally funded programs, and advance new detector capabilities that support the evolving mission of NSLS-II and the broader Laboratory.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead selected research and development efforts in advanced x-ray detector science, with primary emphasis on next-generation diamond-based x-ray detectors.
• Define and carry out impactful R&D on next-generation thin diamond x-ray detectors, novel electrode and contact architectures, and charge-collection optimization strategies that expand the reach of diamond-based detection to lower x-ray energies while preserving the speed, radiation tolerance, and stability required for synchrotron science.
• Develop and evaluate new detector concepts for challenging x-ray measurement problems, including high flux, high speed, high dynamic range, and harsh-environment operation.
• Work with NSLS-II beamlines and technical staff to identify science-driven detector needs and help translate them into new instrumentation capabilities.
• Lead or make significant contributions to the design, testing, characterization, and deployment of advanced detector hardware and associated experimental methods.
• Build collaborations across detector development, materials, microfabrication, electronics, beamline instrumentation, and scientific applications, both within Brookhaven and with external partners.
• Contribute to the development of proposals for externally funded detector R&D programs aligned with DOE and other strategic opportunities.
• Publish original research in peer-reviewed journals and present results at scientific conferences and workshops.
• Help identify promising future directions in diamond and other novel detector technologies relevant to NSLS-II and the broader Laboratory mission.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s and 12+ years, or Master’s and 9+ years, or Ph.D. in physics, applied physics, materials science, or a closely related field and 4+ years post-PhD.
• Demonstrated record of impactful scientific achievement and leadership in detector research and development.
• Extensive experience in semiconductor radiation detectors, with strong expertise in x-ray detector physics and performance characterization.
• Demonstrated expertise in diamond detector development, including one or more of the following: thin detector structures, contact and electrode design, charge transport and collection, device fabrication, radiation hardness, or beamline-based characterization.
• Demonstrated ability to lead independent research efforts and contribute to multi-investigator or multi-disciplinary programs.
• Strong record of peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations, and technical contributions recognized by the broader research community.
• Demonstrated success in developing, contributing to, or leading externally funded research proposals.
• Ability to build effective collaborations across organizational boundaries, including with beamline scientists, engineers, materials researchers, and external partners.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Ability to commit approximately 50–60% effort in a part-time capacity.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s and 15+ years, or Master’s and 12+ years, or Ph.D. in physics, applied physics, materials science, or a closely related field and 6+ years post-PhD.
• Experience developing or applying x-ray detectors at synchrotron, accelerator, or other advanced photon science facilities.
• Experience with detector microfabrication approaches, including metallization, lithography, surface treatment, passivation, substrate preparation, or packaging/integration methods.
• Experience with low-noise detector readout, fast electronics, current-mode or pulse-mode measurements, and detector system integration.
• Experience with beamline deployment of custom instrumentation and close engagement with scientific users.
• Experience identifying and pursuing novel detector directions beyond diamond, including other semiconductor or advanced materials platforms relevant to future x-ray detection needs.
• Demonstrated ability to influence detector program directions through technical vision, sponsor engagement, and leadership in capability development.

Other Information

• This is a part-time Research Staff position with an anticipated effort level of approximately 45-50%.
• This is an onsite position located at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York.

Brookhaven Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. This is a multi-level role and the full salary range for this position is $122,600.00 - $209,233.00/ year. You will be placed at the level and salary commensurate with your experience. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.

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Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country, learn more at BNL | Opportunities for Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

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