Staff Scientist – Microelectronics & Nanofabrication

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory•Berkeley, CA

2d•$129,924 - $207,900•Onsite

About The Position

The Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Staff Scientist in its Nanofabrication Facility to develop and lead a microelectronics research program centered on precision materials synthesis and to build a user research program. The role connects next-generation microelectronics research with precision materials synthesis and automated data infrastructure. The Foundry uses a 50:50 effort model: approximately half of the position’s time is devoted to user service and outreach, with the remainder devoted to an independent research program in the basic science of nanofabrication. The successful candidate will establish a research program aligned with the Foundry’s materials-for-microelectronics themes, develop and resource fundamental nanofabrication research, and build collaborations and outreach to the broader scientific community. Research may use existing cleanroom tools to develop functional materials and patterning approaches for CMOS and beyond, including sub-10-nm patterning and optical patterning methods, and may combine process data, materials characterization, and device performance data to support predictive machine-learning models. The position also contributes to the operation and development of the Nanofabrication Facility, provides hands-on support to users, collaborates across the Foundry and LBNL, publishes and presents research, mentors junior researchers, and promotes safe and collaborative work. The appointment is a full-time, two-year career-track term appointment, renewable up to five years, with possible conversion to a career position subject to performance, funding, and operational needs. A career appointment may be considered for candidates with relevant experience or eligible existing staff.

Requirements

Ph.D. or equivalent degree in physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering, or another discipline relevant to nanofabrication, nanotechnology, and nanoscience.
At least 5 years of professional experience with nanofabrication, including at least 3 years relating to microelectronics fabrication.
Demonstrated excellence in atomic layer processing, plasma processing, thin-film deposition, and microelectronics device fabrication.
Ability and willingness to provide users with hands-on support and expert nanofabrication knowledge.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to collaborate across research groups and disciplines; demonstrated adaptability and openness to different ideas and approaches.
Productivity in nanoscale materials research, demonstrated through examples such as publications, presentations at national or international meetings, and patents. A typical record includes one presentation per year and more than two publications or patents per year, evaluated over multiple years.
Ability to conduct independent research in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment.
Technical knowledge and practical hands-on expertise in reactive-ion etching, atomic-layer deposition, electron-beam evaporation, sputtering, electron-beam lithography, and integrated ultra-high-vacuum systems.
Technical knowledge of electrical testing and measurement to characterize resistive, capacitive, inductive, and nonlinear active-circuit-element behavior in novel microelectronic devices.
Knowledge and experience of laboratory safety requirements and integrating safety into laboratory work practices.
For a Career appointment, productivity in collaborative research.
For a Career appointment, demonstrated leadership and independence in program development.
For a Career appointment, evidence of prior successful funding submissions for fundamental basic-science research.

Nice To Haves

Experience with automated experimentation, scientific data pipelines, statistical experimental design, or machine-learning approaches applied to materials synthesis, processing, or device fabrication.
Experience integrating multiple processes into semiconductor or nanoscale device-fabrication workflows and relating process conditions to materials or device performance.
Demonstrated experience contributing to competitive research proposals, collaborative research programs, or externally funded scientific projects.

Responsibilities

Design and lead an individual research program aligned with the Molecular Foundry’s research themes around materials for microelectronics.
Develop, resource through external funding, and lead a fundamental nanofabrication program investigating the impact of structure, function, and dimensionality on modern microelectronics.
Use existing nanofabrication tools in the class 100 cleanroom while maintaining their utility for academic and industrial facility users.
Develop and study functional materials for CMOS and beyond, with a focus on patterning at sub-10-nm dimensions.
Explore optical patterning approaches for future microelectronic circuit elements, such as multiphoton lithography, 3D optical patterning, optically induced area-selective deposition and etching, and extreme ultraviolet patterning.
Combine process data, materials characterization, and device performance into datasets for machine-learning models that predict materials properties and process parameters for microelectronic materials and device designs.
Develop a multidisciplinary user program, recruit users from industry, academia, and national laboratories, and provide hands-on nanofabrication expertise and support.
Share responsibility for user-related operations and maintenance or administration of existing tools, and develop new methods, recipes, and capabilities in the Nanofabrication Facility.
Collaborate with Foundry scientific staff to support users and participate in collaborative research.
Collaborate with researchers across LBNL, including the Molecular Foundry, Advanced Light Source, and Materials Sciences and Chemical Sciences Divisions, to advance LBNL’s microelectronics program.
Prepare scientific data for publication, serve as a lead conceptual contributor to refereed manuscripts, and present findings at seminars and conferences.
Mentor and provide technical direction to graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and research associates on internal research projects.
Maintain a safe working environment, follow environmental protection requirements for hazardous chemicals, and help promote safe work practices among facility staff and users.
Foster a respectful, excellent, multidisciplinary, and collaborative work environment.
For a Career appointment, perform the duties with a high level of independence and autonomy, translating research into high-impact publications or patents.
For a Career appointment, source, secure, and maintain external research funding and domestic and international collaborations within the position’s research scope.