Postdoctoral Fellow; PREP

General Description

Salary: $82,000-$89,000 a year

PREP Research Associate — CHIPS funded project. This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields.

Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration’s scientific research.

Research Engineer

The candidate will join a multidisciplinary team of scientists working to advance nondestructive defect detection metrology for advanced semiconductor packaging by developing reference artifacts and benchmark datasets. The candidate will contribute to designing CAD models, running X-ray computed tomography (XCT) simulations, and performing XCT reconstructions to generate datasets. The candidate will develop a Python script or package to automate these processes.

Additionally, the candidate will utilize a generative modeling process created by the team to help generate 3D models with seeded defects. The datasets will be used to evaluate defect detection and image segmentation algorithms, including those based on deep learning principles. The candidate may contribute to sample preparation and nondestructive and destructive measurements. The incumbent will analyze the resulting measurements, perform image processing, and extract meaningful information to support the research goals outlined in the experiment plan.

They will organize the measured and analyzed datasets for publication, communicate with the team, and share the results at conferences and in publications.

U.S. Citizen Preferred

• Design 3D models for simulation, run XCT simulations, carry out XCT reconstruction, and execute image analysis.
• Organize and prepare data sets for publication.
• Prepare samples and make nondestructive and destructive measurements.
• Present results at internal meetings and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.
• Publish results in journals and present results at conferences.

• A doctoral degree in physics, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience with XCT measurements, reconstruction, and image analysis. Experience with XCT simulation is a plus.
• Experience in writing Python scripts. Familiarity with automating or controlling other software, tools, or processes through APIs, inter-process communication, or similar methods is a plus.
• Experience with sample preparation (mechanical polishing, focused ion beam) or scanning electron microscopy imaging is a plus.
• Experience with implementing deep learning-based image segmentation processes is a plus.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Able to quickly learn and adapt to new fields or techniques.

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors or demographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the program involved.