Postdoctoral Appointee - Superconducting Devices

Argonne National Laboratory • Lemont, IL

1d • $72,879 - $121,465

About The Position

Argonne National Laboratory invites applications for a postdoctoral research position in experimental physics and superconducting device development, with a focus on advancing multipixel single-photon camera technology and multiplexed readout for quantum information science applications. As part of a multidisciplinary team spanning multiple Argonne divisions, you will contribute to the design, fabrication, and characterization of superconducting devices based on high kinetic inductance materials, while having the opportunity to shape a new research capability with broad impact across quantum networking, communications, and computing.
Research Focus Design and fabricate superconducting devices exploiting the nonlinear kinetic inductance of thin superconducting films, including microwave resonators for frequency-domain multiplexed readout of single photon detectors (kinetic inductance current sensors) Develop and characterize superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) using high kinetic inductance materials such as NbN, TiN, and NbTiN, targeting high detection efficiency from visible to telecom wavelengths Implement and test scalable readout architectures for nanowire arrays, including multiplexing concepts based on superconducting cryogenic switches (hTron, fTron) Perform low-noise cryogenic measurements of device performance, including timing jitter, dark count rate, detection efficiency, and resonator quality factors Iterate rapidly on fabrication processes and readout circuit designs informed by device characterization and electromagnetic simulations Contribute to the development of complete instrument systems for characterization of solid-state single-photon emitters, including photon correlation and spectroscopy measurements About the Team You will join a collaborative team of physicists and engineers drawn from Argonne's High Energy Physics (HEP), X-ray Science (XSD), and Materials Science (MSD) divisions. The team brings together deep expertise in superconducting detector arrays, thin-film materials development, nanofabrication, cryogenic instrumentation, quantum communications, and solid-state quantum emitter systems. The project leverages existing Argonne infrastructure including dilution refrigerators, adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators, low-noise DC and RF measurement equipment, and cleanroom fabrication facilities including at the Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM).

Requirements

• Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (within the last 0-5 years) in physics, electrical engineering, materials science, or a related discipline
• Demonstrated experience with superconducting devices or similar quantum/low-temperature technologies, particularly design, fabrication, and/or measurement
• Proficiency in low-noise cryogenic measurement techniques at millikelvin to few-kelvin temperatures
• Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork

Nice To Haves

• Experience with superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), transition-edge sensors (TESs), or kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs)
• Experience with cleanroom microfabrication processes, including thin-film deposition (e.g., magnetron sputtering), electron-beam or optical lithography, and dry/wet etching
• Familiarity with microwave resonator design, characterization, and RF/microwave measurement techniques
• Electromagnetic simulation experience (e.g., Sonnet, Ansys HFSS/Lumerical, or similar tools)
• Experience with data acquisition, instrument control, and data analysis in Python or similar languages
• Knowledge of quantum optics measurements such as photon correlation functions or photon-number-resolved detection
• Familiarity with aspects of condensed matter and BCS superconductivity theory applicable to high kinetic inductance superconducting materials

Responsibilities

• Design and fabricate superconducting devices exploiting the nonlinear kinetic inductance of thin superconducting films, including microwave resonators for frequency-domain multiplexed readout of single photon detectors (kinetic inductance current sensors)
• Develop and characterize superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) using high kinetic inductance materials such as NbN, TiN, and NbTiN, targeting high detection efficiency from visible to telecom wavelengths
• Implement and test scalable readout architectures for nanowire arrays, including multiplexing concepts based on superconducting cryogenic switches (hTron, fTron)
• Perform low-noise cryogenic measurements of device performance, including timing jitter, dark count rate, detection efficiency, and resonator quality factors
• Iterate rapidly on fabrication processes and readout circuit designs informed by device characterization and electromagnetic simulations
• Contribute to the development of complete instrument systems for characterization of solid-state single-photon emitters, including photon correlation and spectroscopy measurements

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees