Postdoctoral Fellow; PREP

PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). The role focuses on scanning probe instrumentation and metrology for experimental condensed matter physics, combining modalities such as scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), electron transport, and electron spin resonance.

• Develop novel instrumentation for scanning probe microscopy.
• Support ongoing operations of scanning probe microscopy experiments.
• Present results at internal meetings and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.
• Ensure that results, protocols, software, and documentation are archived and transmitted to the larger organization.
• U.S. citizenship is preferred.

• A PhD degree in experimental condensed matter physics or a related field.
• Five years of experience designing and building STM and AFM operating at ultra‑low temperatures (10 mK), ultra‑high vacuum (UHV), and high magnetic fields (0–15 T).
• Experience building piezo‑electric motors and scanners from 10 mK to 300 K.
• Designing and building multi‑contact sample and probe holders.
• Assembling AFM qPlus sensors.
• Preparation of atomically sharp STM/AFM probe tips.
• Characterization and treatment of STM probes using a field ion microscope (FIM).
• Detailed wiring of STM and AFM modules with thorough documentation.
• Testing and debugging STM and AFM for electrical and vibrational noise.
• Integrating multi‑modal measurements (STM, AFM, electrical transport) in a single system at ultra‑low temperatures and UHV.
• Designing and constructing cryogenic preamplifiers for STM and AFM measurements.
• Building UHV vacuum chambers and transfer systems.
• Wiring and operating dilution refrigerators.
• Building gas handling systems for dilution refrigerators.
• Designing, fabricating, and testing RF filters for dilution refrigerator operation at ultra‑low temperatures and in UHV.
• Conducting molecular beam epitaxy growth of materials, including 2D, van der Waals, and superconducting materials.
• Research experience in 2D materials (e.g., graphene‑based heterostructures) with at least one related publication.
• Research experience in superconducting materials with at least one related publication.
• Developing and programming LabVIEW VIs for spectroscopic mapping of STM/AFM on the Nanonis SPM platform (5+ years).
• Developing and programming LabVIEW VIs for instrument control, including dilution refrigerator and superconducting magnet systems (5+ years).
• Python programming for instrumentation control and data analysis (5+ years).
• 3‑D CAD design using Creo Elements Direct Modeling (5+ years).
• Maintaining helium recovery systems and operating helium liquefiers.
• Handling cryogens, including liquid helium transfer.
• Creating 2D and 3D scientific illustrations for publication.