Assistant in Research NHMFL

Position: Assistant in Research, 12 Month Salaried (NHMFL) - Multiple Vacancies
Location: Tallahassee

Department

National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (Mag Lab) - DC Field Facility (DCFF)

Responsibilities

As a member of the DCFF user support team, the Research Faculty member supports a world-leading scientific user program built on a unique suite of resistive, superconducting, and hybrid magnet systems, specialized experimental techniques, and deep staff expertise. In this role, you will help enable high-impact experiments across condensed matter physics, materials science, and related fields by advancing DCFF capabilities, supporting user experiments, and ensuring safe, excellent, and collaborative operations.

• User Support & Experimental Operations
  • Provide hands-on scientific and technical support to external and internal users conducting high-field experiments, ensuring safe and efficient execution of measurements.
  • Guide users, as needed, in all aspects of an experiment: planning, preparation, instrument configuration, data acquisition, troubleshooting, data analysis, manuscript preparation.
  • Maintain an active presence and consistent communication throughout the experiment, in an effort to ensure high quality experimental results.
• Instrumentation Development
  • Design, build, optimize, and document advanced measurement systems, including various types of experimental probes and setups, tailored to user science needs.
  • Lead improvements to reliability, robustness, and performance of existing DCFF scientific infrastructure.
  • Collaborate with engineering, electronics, cryogenics, and machine shop teams to implement new capabilities.
• Research & Scientific Output
  • Conduct collaborative research leveraging DCFF capabilities.
  • Participation in publishing peer-reviewed papers, contributing to Mag Lab science highlights, and conference presentations.
  • Identify emerging scientific opportunities and help shape future facility directions and proposals.
• Operational Excellence & Leadership
  • Participate in magnet scheduling, experiment triage, and facility planning aligned with the Mag Lab mission and priorities.
  • Contribute to developing standard operating procedures, technical documentation, and training materials.
  • Demonstrate collaborative leadership within a multidisciplinary environment that includes mentoring students, postdocs, and early-career users.

Qualifications

Ph.D. in Physics, Materials Science, or a closely related field.

• Demonstrated expertise in experimental condensed matter physics or instrumentation relevant to high magnetic fields.
• Experience with cryogenics, low-noise measurements, high-precision instrumentation, data acquisition systems, or magnet-related experimental techniques.
• Strong record of scientific/technical productivity (publications, presentations, technical reports, designs).
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate with a broad range of individuals.
• Active, can-do, perpetual-learner mindset that maintains a focus on service to user experiments.
• Commitment to maintaining an environment of safety excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in high magnetic field research environment.
• Experience with the measurement techniques listed here .
• Experience working in large-scale user facilities or multi-user laboratory environments.
• Demonstrated success in developing measurement platforms, control systems, or advanced probes.
• Experience mentoring students or leading small project teams.
• Familiarity with facility operations, scheduling, and user program management.
• Ability to secure external funding to support scientific or instrumentation efforts.

Contact Info

For additional information, please contact Kayla West at knwest .

University Information

One of the nation's elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and critical thinking. Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. FSU is a community steeped in tradition that fosters research and encourages creativity.

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