Postdoctoral Researcher (PREP0002962)

Description

PREP Research Associate
CHIPS Funded Project.

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and thus requires that such institutions be the recipients of a PREP award. 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.

Research Title:

Digital Twins for Atomic Layer Deposition Processes

The work will entail: 

The Chemical Sciences Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join a multi-disciplinary team of scientists working on advanced modeling of atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes. The project will develop a suite of in situ metrology tools to quantify mass transport processes occurring during thermal ALD. Metrology data will support the development of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and machine learning (ML) models of transport and surface reaction processes, with the ultimate goal of producing validated digital twins for thermal ALD processes. The project team includes experts in vapor phase deposition processes, in situ optical metrology, micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) design, numerical modeling, and machine learning. NIST maintains unique facilities for the development and application of fast and sensitive in situ diagnostics for vapor phase deposition processes. Multiple research-grade ALD systems dedicated to oxide, metal, and sulfide film deposition are available, as well as optical measurements spanning the UV and mid-IR wavelengths tailored for surface and gas-phase processes.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Operating and maintaining research-grade ALD equipment
• Applying temporally- and spatially-resolved optical measurements to ALD processes
• Processing and interpreting large datasets, including imaging data
• Using process data to evaluate and validate mass transport models
• Working in a multi-disciplinary team comprised of experts in ALD processes, metrology development, and computational modeling
• Regularly reporting research findings to project team and advisor(s)
• Publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presenting at conferences

Qualifications

·         Ph.D. or equivalent experience in natural sciences, engineering or a related field

·         Expertise in building, maintaining, and operating ALD process equipment

·         Experience in performing in situ process measurements (e.g. ellipsometry, quartz crystal microbalance, and mass spectrometry)

·         Experience in performing optical measurements (e.g. time-resolved laser spectroscopy)

·         Ability to operate custom-built laboratory instrumentation

·         Familiarity with data processing and analysis workflows, preferably using Python

·         Strong written and oral communication skills

Application Instructions

Please upload the following with your application:

·         CV/Resume

·         2 professional references

*Please limit C.V to 2 pages only

*Do not include any personal information such as photos, home address or phone numbers

Privacy Act Statement

Authority:  15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)

Purpose:  The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the  Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor’s degree holders, graduate students, master’s degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.  

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate the administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses:  NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices:  NIST-1: NIST Associates. 

Disclosure:  Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting.  Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range.  The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

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The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check including education verification.

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Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

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