Teaching Postdoctoral Fellow, Xray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Chemistry Teaching, College of A&S

Current UC employees must apply internally via Success Factors

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Job Overview

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow specializing in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and surface analysis. The successful candidate will have primary responsibility for supporting the operation and scientific use of the Department’s newly acquired Kratos AXIS Supra+ X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer. This position will involve teaching and related instructional activities in the Department of Chemistry.

The AXIS Supra+ is a state-of-the-art, automated surface-analysis platform capable of high-resolution XPS spectroscopy, selected-area analysis, chemical-state imaging, and depth profiling. The Postdoctoral Fellow will operate and maintain this XPS instrument, assist internal and external users with experimental design and sample analysis, train and certify new users, and support the interpretation and reporting of surface-analysis data. The individual will also contribute to undergraduate instruction, primarily in general chemistry, with possible assignments in advanced undergraduate laboratories, instrumental analysis, surface characterization, or other chemistry courses according to departmental needs.

This position provides an opportunity to develop expertise in advanced instrumentation, facility management, interdisciplinary research collaboration, university teaching, and the operation of a shared research facility.

Essential Functions

XPS Instrumentation and Research Support

• Operate the Kratos AXIS Supra+ X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer and associated surface-analysis capabilities.
• Perform routine instrument calibration, performance verification, quality-control measurements, and diagnostic testing.
• Prepare, mount, and introduce samples while ensuring that samples are compatible with instrument and ultrahigh-vacuum requirements.
• Acquire survey spectra, high-resolution spectra, selected-area spectra, chemical-state images, depth profiles, UPS spectra, and ISS data, as appropriate.
• Use monatomic and gas-cluster ion sources for sample cleaning and depth-profiling experiments.
• Assist researchers with experimental design, selection of acquisition parameters, spectral processing, peak fitting, quantification, and interpretation of results.
• Conduct sample analyses for university researchers, external academic users, government laboratories, and industrial partners.
• Collaborate with faculty, students, and research staff on projects involving XPS and complementary materials-characterization techniques.
• Contribute, where appropriate, to scientific manuscripts, proposals, presentations, and facility-development activities.
• Develop independent or collaborative research projects that make use of the XPS facility.

User Training and Facility Management

• Develop and deliver training programs for graduate students, undergraduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other users.
• Train and certify qualified users for independent operation of…