Postdoctoral Fellow; PREP

PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST provides opportunities for research staff to collaborate with academic institutions through PREP awards, allowing staff from diverse backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this role will perform technical work that supports the scientific research of the collaboration.

Researcher in Optical Properties of Materials

The Sensor Science Division at NIST seeks a researcher to advance the understanding and measurement of optical properties of materials. The role focuses on developing innovative, high‑accuracy methods to characterize how materials interact with light—through reflectance, transmittance, and bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF)—across ultraviolet, visible, and short‑wave infrared spectral regions. The researcher will work to reduce measurement uncertainties while exploring new approaches that enable more precise material characterization.

In collaboration with NIST experts, the work will address real‑world challenges such as improving solar‑energy material efficiency, enhancing remote sensing for climate monitoring, advancing optical coatings for imaging and defense systems, supporting semiconductor manufacturing, and improving material identification in biomedical diagnostics and cultural heritage preservation.

• Develop and improve high‑accuracy measurement methods for determining optical properties of materials, including reflectance, transmittance, and BRDF across UV, visible, and short‑wave infrared spectral regions.
• Reduce measurement uncertainties and advance the reliability and traceability of optical property data.
• Design, build, and refine experimental systems and instrumentation for optical metrology.
• Apply optical property measurements to real‑world challenges, including energy materials, remote sensing, advanced manufacturing, and optical coatings.
• Analyze and interpret complex datasets, including uncertainty analysis and model development.
• Publish research findings in peer‑reviewed journals and present results at scientific conferences.
• Develop and sustain an independent, forward‑looking research program that expands the impact of optical material measurements across industry, government, and academia.

• Ph.D. in Physics, Optics, Engineering, Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Hands‑on experience in design and construction of optical instruments.
• Demonstrated experience with laser technologies.
• Familiarity or direct experience with optical modeling.
• Programming proficiency with Python, MATLAB, or Lab View for instrument control and data analysis.
• Evidence of independent research experience and strong enthusiasm for learning new theoretical, computational, and experimental techniques.
• U.S. Citizen strongly preferred.

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. Actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include geographical location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training, and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. The university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Qualified individuals are provided access to all academic and employment programs, benefits, and activities based on demonstrated ability, performance, and merit without regard to personal factors irrelevant to the program.