Senior Research Scientist; PREP

Position Overview

Pre- and Post-doctoral Research Associate – Nanoscale Thermal Metrology Using Nanocalorimetry (U.S. Citizens Preferred). This role is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) and is funded by the CHIPS Initiative.

• Design and assemble new instrumentation to improve accuracy, sensitivity, speed, and stability of nanocalorimetry measurements, including the development of LabVIEW-based data acquisition systems, hardware integration, and data analysis workflows.
• Perform measurements to characterize the thermal properties of thin film materials.
• Support parallel research efforts to utilize nanocalorimetry for in‑situ monitoring of semiconductor manufacturing processes.
• Publish results in peer‑reviewed scientific journals and present findings at scientific conferences.

• Ph.D. in materials science, physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• Hands‑on experience building and maintaining custom laboratory instrumentation with extensive LabVIEW skills; FPGA experience preferred.
• Expertise in designing custom electronics, including PCB layout and analog circuit design.
• Knowledge of common nanofabrication processes; experience working in clean rooms a plus.
• Knowledge of thermal property measurements with hands‑on or specialized calorimetry experience preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Associate researcher position in the Materials Measurement Science Division for an initial term of one year, with options to renew. Associate researchers are not federal employees but work alongside NIST researchers and access NIST’s world‑class instrumentation. Relocation expenses are not provided. U.S. Citizens hired into associate positions may be eligible to pursue longer‑term federal employment. Salary range: $90,000 to $100,000.

$90,000 – $100,000 per year.

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