Principal Optical Scientist

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world‑changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth

C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Oversee and execute a range of complex scientific research in a core facility environment including planning and optimizing research, designing analysis algorithms, and providing training to researchers, faculty, and staff.

The Center for Nanoscale Systems (CNS) at Harvard University is seeking an enthusiastic individual to work within the Imaging and Analysis Group as a Senior Scientist devoted to our Optical Spectroscopy Core.

The position will train and support users in the use of a wide variety of standard spectral techniques, UV/Vis, FTIR, Raman, etc. In addition, the role will support the development and training of a range of next‑generation spectral tools including Nonlinear Optical Imaging, Scan Probe Optical Imaging and Spectroscopic Techniques, as well as Ultrafast Optics support. CNS is an open, shared‑use facility that serves all of Harvard as well as external academic and industrial users.

Working under the supervision of the CNS Executive Director and the Imaging and Analysis Facility Manager, this person will oversee the rapidly evolving and expanding spectroscopy laboratory.

Helping users in fields ranging from Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Engineering. The goal will be to support exciting, emerging, new areas of research and CNS expects to be at the cutting edge of these technologies.

The incumbent must be extremely well versed in linear and nonlinear optics, nanooptics, and nanophotonics, and have a detailed understanding of the design, construction, and development of optical systems. These tools are defining an entirely new realm of nanoscale materials and device characterization, and they will become essential tools in the advancement of world‑class nanoscience. To this end this person will serve as one of the focal points of optical technology advancement for CNS.

As such, the applicant must be comfortable with instrument development, training new facility users on sample preparation, instrument operation, and computational data analysis.

The candidate needs to have advanced knowledge and experience in operation of an array of imaging paradigms for optical characterization.

In addition, the incumbent must be familiar with ultrafast laser‑based spectral imaging systems, particularly in the area of ultra‑high‑resolution optical imaging.

The incumbent will become a resource for collaboration and must have strong written and verbal communication skills.

The candidate will also perform work for remote CNS users. Detailed record keeping of instrument activity, experimental results, maintenance and repair logs, and operating procedures is expected.

• May be exposed to blood borne pathogens, primary tissue, cell lines or infectious materials
• May work in a research environment where animals are present
• May be exposed to toxic, radioactive, or carcinogenic materials including compressed gases, acids, solvents, vacuum pump oils, and other chemicals
• May be required to work nights and…