Postdoctoral Associate or Research Associate

Job Summary

The proposed work is a joint collaboration between the Faint Photonics group within the Applied Physics Division and the Ion Storage Group within the Time and Frequency Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado. Primary duties consist of analyzing and improving the performance of superconducting nanowire single‑photon detectors (SNSPDs) at visible and UV wavelengths for the purpose of generating distributed entanglement between remote ions.

This task involves both nanofabrication in a specialized "cleanroom" facility and device testing and characterization in an optics setup. The research requires the development of novel materials and SNSPD device designs to combine multiple performance metrics into single devices such as system efficiency, maximum count rate, polarization dependence, and dark count rate at wavelengths relevant to entanglement generation. Contribution to various international partnerships and collaborations involving SNSPDs, both academic and commercial, will also be required.

• Design and fabricate new SNSPD architectures to achieve >90% efficiency at visible and UV wavelengths.
• Test SNSPD devices using cryogenic systems and contribute to the maintenance and operation of those systems.
• Contribute to domestic and international collaborations with groups working on SNSPDs, both academic and commercial.
• Develop optical testing setups for measuring system detection efficiency at the relevant visible and UV wavelengths.
• Support experiments within the Ion Storage Group.
• Publish results in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Present results at conferences.

• This position requires the successful completion of an NAIS agreement and federal security clearance as mandated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Employment is contingent upon approval of these requirements as determined by NIST.
• Anticipated start date:
  September 15, 2026.
• Anticipated end date:
  March 31, 2028.

• Postdoctoral Associate:
  PhD in physics, electrical engineering, or a related field with 0–4 years of post‑doctoral experience.
• Research Associate:
  PhD in physics, electrical engineering, or a related field with 5+ years of post‑doctoral experience.

• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Expertise in one or more of the following desired:
• SNSPD design, fabrication and testing.
• Experimental quantum optics such as entanglement generation using nonlinear optics.
• Design and operation of cryogenic systems.
• Vacuum and high‑vacuum systems.
• RF electronics and circuit design.
• CAD/CAM software such as Solidworks.
• Programming using Python and/or LabVIEW.

• Salary range for full‑time Postdoctoral Associate position: $74,000 – $108,000 annually.
• Salary range for full‑time Research Associate position: $78,000 – $135,000 annually.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.