Thermoreflectance Thermal Property Measurements

National Institute of Standards and Technology; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Materials Measurement Laboratory seeks qualified individuals to validate and improve thermoreflectance optical pump-probe thermal-property measurement methods, develop instrumentation, optimize protocols, and provide data for thin-film and multilayer materials to improve microelectronics thermal management. The role collaborates with optics, metrology, and instrument design experts.

Applicants should hold a Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics, optics, materials science/engineering, or other related field.
• Experience designing, building, and operating thermoreflectance-based measurement instrumentation.
• Experience in thermal metrology, thermal analysis, and optics.
• Experience in thin film deposition and thin film characterization.
• Experience with data modeling and programming (MATLAB required).
• Expertise in semiconductor manufacturing processes and device failure analysis.
• Experience working in cleanrooms.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Designing, building, operating, and/or refining pump-probe instrumentation
• Operating and developing physics-based analysis software
• Measuring thermal property data for internal and external collaborators and stakeholders
• Depositing and characterizing thin films in the NIST NanoFab
• Presenting results at internal and/or external meetings as required
• Writing and publishing results

Skills

Thermoreflectance instrumentation

Thermal metrology

Data analysis

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Ph.D. in physics/optics/materials science

Tools

MATLAB

Job description

Thermoreflectance Thermal Property Measurements

The Material Measurement Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking qualified persons (U.S. Citizens Preferred) to validate and improve thermoreflectance optical pump-probe thermal-property measurement methods, develop and refine instrumentation, optimize protocols, and provide thermal property data for thin-film and multilayer materials that can improve the performance, reliability, and thermal management in microelectronics packages and wide bandgap power electronics. The researcher will work closely with NIST experts in optics, thermal metrology, scientific instrument design, and uncertainty analysis.

Duties

• Designing, building, operating, and/or refining pump-probe instrumentation
• Operating and developing physics-based analysis software
• Measuring thermal property data for internal and external collaborators and stakeholders
• Depositing and characterizing thin films in the NIST NanoFab
• Presenting results at internal and/or external meetings as required
• Writing and publishing results

Required Skills, Expertise, and Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics, optics, materials science/engineering, or other related field
• Experience in designing, building, and operating thermoreflectance-based measurement instrumentation
• Experience in thermal metrology, thermal analysis, and optics
• Experience in thin film deposition and thin film characterization
• Experience with data modeling and programming (MATLAB required)
• Expertise in semiconductor manufacturing processes and device failure analysis
• Experience working in cleanrooms
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Employment Terms

This opportunity is to be an associate researcher in the Materials Measurement Science Division for a term of 1 year, with options to renew. Associate researchers are NOT Federal Employees, but they work aside NIST researchers and with NIST’s often world-class instrumentation. Relocation expenses will not be provided. U.S. citizens hired into associate positions may have the opportunity to seek longer term Federal Employment.