Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0004360)

Johns Hopkins University • Gaithersburg, MD

10d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking a driven Postdoctoral Researcher to bridge the gap between fundamental frequency comb spectroscopy and industrial semiconductor fabrication. Joining a multidisciplinary team, you will deploy electro-optic (EO) frequency combs to perform real-time, in-situ mid-IR spectroscopy of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) processes. Your work will directly impact the next generation of microelectronics by quantifying the partial pressures of deposition precursors and reaction byproducts with microsecond resolution.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Physics, Chemistry, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience with optical measurements.
• Strong programming skills for data analysis and instrument interfacing.
• A collaborative mindset suited for a fast-paced, multidisciplinary lab environment and excellent technical writing ability.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience with frequency combs or molecular spectroscopy is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Drive the development and alignment of high-accuracy EO frequency comb spectrometers.
• Execute time-resolved molecular spectroscopy experiments; analyze complex data sets by fitting experimental spectra to molecular databases (e.g., HITRAN).
• Build and maintain Python-based tools for signal processing, noise reduction, automated data acquisition, and data analysis.
• Lead the authoring of high-impact manuscripts and represent NIST’s research at international conferences.

What This Job Offers

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