Summer Researcher

New Jersey Institute of Technology; Nebraska; On-site; USD 47,000 - 52,000; Part time

Job summary

New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark invites applications for a Summer Researcher in the PRANA Lab. The position offers hands-on experience with electrochemical gas sensing, microfluidic platforms, and AI/ML-driven signal processing during a focused 10-week term.

You will design and test sensing cells, develop materials such as ITO and carbon electrodes, and collaborate with graduate and undergraduate students while documenting procedures and results.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated hands-on experience with electrochemical sensing techniques including impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and amperometry.
• Ability to work independently, troubleshoot technical challenges, and deliver results within established project timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, and characterize electrochemical microfluidic gas sensing cells incorporating ionic liquid electrolytes.
• Develop and optimize electrode materials, including ITO and carbon-based electrodes, to enhance sensor sensitivity and selectivity.
• Integrate porous membrane transducer architectures into portable, field-deployable sensing modules.
• Conduct impedance spectroscopy and amperometric measurements for VOC detection and quantification.
• Implement and refine machine learning models for multi-analyte classification and concentration prediction.
• Develop signal drift correction protocols to improve long-term sensor stability under real-world operating conditions.
• Integrate sensor data acquisition with embedded computing platforms to support autonomous, portable operation.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate sensor performance against established reference methods.
• Document experimental procedures and results, prepare technical reports, and contribute to presentations.
• Provide technical data and analytical results to support ongoing development of the ESSENCE-Air platform.
• Collaborate with graduate and undergraduate students within the PRANA Lab.

Skills

electrochemical sensing techniques (Im

independently troubleshoot

English communication

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, or related field

Tools

Microfluidic device fabrication

Job description

Position Summary

The PRANA Lab at NJIT develops programmable, responsive, and adaptive microfluidic biosensing platforms for applications spanning point-of-care diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and defense. Our flagship systems—including the ESSENCE (Electrochemical Sensing System with Ionic-liquid-based Nanoporous Configurations for Environments) platform and the Porous Membrane Transducer (PMT)—leverage impedance spectroscopy, ionic liquid interfaces, and AI/ML-driven signal processing to enable multiplexed, real-time detection of chemical and biological analytes. We seek a hands-on Summer Researcher to contribute to advancing electrochemical gas sensing technology over a focused 10-week term, supporting innovative research in environmental monitoring and chemical detection.

Title

Summer Researcher

Department

Associate Professor

Reports To

Associate Professor

Position Summary

The PRANA Lab at NJIT develops programmable, responsive, and adaptive microfluidic biosensing platforms for applications spanning point-of-care diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and defense. Our flagship systems—including the ESSENCE (Electrochemical Sensing System with Ionic-liquid-based Nanoporous Configurations for Environments) platform and the Porous Membrane Transducer (PMT)—leverage impedance spectroscopy, ionic liquid interfaces, and AI/ML-driven signal processing to enable multiplexed, real-time detection of chemical and biological analytes. We seek a hands-on Summer Researcher to contribute to advancing electrochemical gas sensing technology over a focused 10-week term, supporting innovative research in environmental monitoring and chemical detection.

Essential Functions

• Design, fabricate, and characterize electrochemical microfluidic gas sensing cells incorporating ionic liquid electrolytes.
• Develop and optimize electrode materials, including indium tin oxide (ITO) and carbon‑based electrodes, to enhance sensor sensitivity and selectivity.
• Integrate porous membrane transducer architectures into portable, field‑deployable sensing modules.
• Conduct impedance spectroscopy and amperometric measurements for volatile organic compound (VOC) detection and quantification.
• Implement and refine machine learning models, including neural networks and random forests, for multi‑analyte classification and concentration prediction.
• Develop signal drift correction protocols to improve long‑term sensor stability under real‑world operating conditions.
• Integrate sensor data acquisition with embedded computing platforms to support autonomous, portable operation.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate sensor performance against established reference methods.
• Document experimental procedures and results, prepare technical reports, and contribute to presentations.
• Provide technical data and analytical results to support ongoing development of the ESSENCE‑Air platform.
• Collaborate with graduate and undergraduate students within the PRANA Lab.

Prerequisite Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience with electrochemical sensing techniques, including impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and amperometry.
• Experience designing and fabricating microfluidic devices.
• Ability to work independently, troubleshoot technical challenges, and deliver results within established project timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ionic liquid‑based electrolyte systems for gas sensing applications.
• Familiarity with AI/ML frameworks such as Python, scikit‑learn, TensorFlow, or equivalent tools applied to chemical sensor data.
• Experience developing portable or field‑deployable analytical instrumentation.
• Experience with impedance data analysis and equivalent circuit modeling.
• Background in point‑of‑care diagnostics or environmental sensing applications.

Compensation

$35.71/hour

NJIT considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. This pay range represents base pay only and excludes any additional items such as incentives, bonuses, or other items.

Range

Hourly Employees

Flsa

Non-Exempt

Time Type

Part time

Pay Rate

Hourly

Additional Information

As an EEO employer NJIT is committed to building a diverse and inclusive teaching, research, and working environment and strongly encourages applications from individuals with disabilities, minorities, veterans, and women. Employment at NJIT is subject to the provisions of New Jersey First Act which mandates new employees, who are not NJ residents, to establish primary residence in New Jersey within one year of their appointment to certain positions. The law does not apply to any individual employed at NJIT on a temporary or per semester basis as a visiting or adjunct professor, teacher, lecturer, researcher or administrator. For more information on the act please click here. If special accommodations are needed in applying for a position, please visit the Department of Human Resources located in Fenster Hall, 5th Floor, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102 or call [phone]. If you have questions, please email the Human Resources Department at [e-mail]. Information regarding NJIT campus security, personal safety, and fire safety including topics such as, disciplinary procedures, crime prevention, NJIT Police law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, and crime statistics for the most recent three year period is available on the NJIT Department of Public Safety here. NJIT is an E-Verify employer and uses E-Verify to confirm work authorization of each new hire.

At the university's discretion

At the university's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be exempted where the candidate can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the university an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.