Post Doctoral Research Fellow

Boise State University • Boise, ID

1d • $55,058 - $65,000

About The Position

Serves in a temporary position that enables an individual with their Ph.D. to
continue their training as a researcher and gain skills and experience that will
prepare them for their research career in academia or elsewhere. As a postdoc,
the position can perform mostly independent research, collaborate on a
multi-scholar research initiative, or even may have lead responsibility for
discrete components of a larger research project or program, all while under the
general direction of a senior or principal researcher.

This is a temporary opportunity with an anticipated duration of 2.5 years.

This fellowship will be housed in the Atomic Films Laboratory of Professor Elton
Graugnard in the Boise State Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering
(https://atomicfilmslab.org) and will work closely with the computational,
device, and simulation teams, as well as with the education and mentorship teams
comprising ASWESOME. This position will inform computational approaches for
growing physical materials with a focus on developing atomic layer processing
ferroelectric thin films and their integration with devices. Emphasis will be
placed on understanding the impacts of precursor selection, surface preparation,
and process conditions using experimental and computational techniques.
Fundamental mechanisms will be studied in detail using in situ and ex situ
characterization techniques.

After earning a Ph.D., the next step in the academic or research career path is
often a postdoc. A postdoc is a continuation of a researcher’s training that
enables them to further their professional development and start to transition
from student to independent researcher. Postdocs also often take additional
leadership or teaching responsibilities in their laboratory or department. These
positions are usually two to three years and it is not unusual for a researcher
to do more than one postdoc.

Requirements

• The selected candidate must be able to meet eligibility requirements for work in the United States at the time the appointment is scheduled to begin and to continue working legally for the proposed term of the appointment.
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills.
• Scientific writing skills demonstrated through peer reviewed publications.
• Ability to acquire accurate, reproducible data.
• Critical eye towards consistency, reproducibility, and the scientific method in general.
• Excellent project and time management skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and mentoring skills.
• Advocate for safety and ethics in the work place.
• Requires a minimum of a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant discipline such as materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, or physics.

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on experience with vacuum system hardware
• Experience with atomic layer deposition and process development
• Experience with thin film and materials characterization
• Strong background in computational materials science and machine learning applications
• Proficiency in programming and data analysis languages (LabVIEW, Python, MatLab, OriginPro, JMP, or similar)
• Knowledge of ferroelectric materials and their properties
• Advanced knowledge of complex oxide and nitride synthesis
• Experience with perovskite and fluorite material systems
• Familiarity with rare-earth compounds and orthoferrites

Responsibilities

• Problem solve research challenges and model development, as applicable.
• Contribute discrete components of a larger project under the general direction of a senior or principal researcher.
• Prepare complete documentation of research activities for reference purposes, including following applicable data management protocols.
• Analyze, interpret, and document research findings for review.
• Compare actual and expected results and suggest solutions to correct the deviations.
• Evaluate existing research or modeling techniques and recommend improvements to ensure quality and productivity.
• Assist in the preparation of proposals and reports.
• Assist in teaching classes.
• Design and conduct experimental research in atomic layer deposition and annealing.
• Develop atomic scale processes to deliver high-quality ferroelectric thin films for next-generation computing applications.
• Work closely with modeling team in Subproject 1 and device teams in Subproject 3 and other project collaborators.
• Publish high-impact research in top-tier materials science and applied physics journals.
• Participate in reflective mentoring practices in support of team cohesion.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 12 paid holidays
• University is closed between Christmas and New Year's (requires use of 3 vacation days)
• Between 12-24 annual paid vacation days for full-time Professional and Classified staff depending on position type and years of service
• 10.76% University contribution to your ORP retirement fund (Professional and Faculty employees)
• 11.96% University contribution to your PERSI retirement fund (Classified employees)
• Excellent medical, dental and other health-related insurance coverages
• Tuition fee waiver benefits for employees, spouses and their dependents

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree