Associate Research Scientist; PREP

PREP Research Associate — CHIPS Project

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. It supports a one-year appointment to collaborate with academic researchers on the CHIPS project, focusing on accurate cure kinetics, stress, mechanical properties, and warpage measurements for next‑generation microelectronics packaging under device‑relevant conditions.

Location: Gaithersburg, MD (on‑site laboratory)

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, design, and characterize the performance of advanced microscopes based on Brillouin scattering, Raman scattering, and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) to study local mechanical properties of materials relevant to semiconductor packaging.
• Characterize mechanical properties of complex polymeric materials using the developed microscopy methods.
• Collaborate with a multi‑disciplinary team to characterize, test, and model polymeric materials relevant to semiconductor packaging applications.
• Participate in the characterization of the mechanical properties of candidate Research Grade Test Materials.
• Publish results in refereed scientific journals and present them at scientific conferences and meetings.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, materials science, or a related discipline.
• Background in Raman and Brillouin light scattering techniques, including expertise in instrumentation development.
• Background in fluorescence lifetime microscopy, with experimental experience in both time and frequency domain methods.
• Experience in measuring viscoelastic properties of polymeric materials using microscopy techniques.
• Strong data analysis and Python programming skills for processing large datasets, fitting models, and producing publication‑quality figures.
• Track record of technical writing (peer‑reviewed papers, technical reports) and communicating results to mixed audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, mentor students/postdocs, and coordinate cross‑functional collaborations.
• Ability to work on‑site in a laboratory setting in Gaithersburg, MD and meet all safety and training requirements.

Position

Description:

The Intelligent Systems Division at NIST investigates the performance of 3D machine‑vision systems for various manufacturing applications. This role focuses on integrating 3D bin‑picking vision systems with robotic arms and conducting experiments to evaluate performance, supporting the development of new metrics and standards.

Location: Gaithersburg, MD (on‑campus, full‑time 40 hrs/wk)

Key Duties:

• Integrate robot arms and commercial bin‑picking systems into the NIST/ISD bin‑picking testbed.
• Program collaborative robot arms to conduct various tasks and experiments.
• Research effects of factors such as part color, surface properties, bin color, bin depth, size ratio, and part distribution on bin‑picking performance (e.g., cycle time, pose uncertainty).
• Collect data from various 3D imaging systems.
• Design and develop 3D‑printed artifacts and optimize 3D printer parameters for improved print quality.
• Use metrology systems (laser trackers, CMMs, etc.) for establishing reference measurements.
• Use analysis software (Python, MATLAB, Spatial Analyzer, Polyworks, Excel, etc.) to interpret results and produce visualizations.
• Assist in the development of demonstrations for trade shows and conferences.
• Write reports and contribute to peer‑reviewed publications.

Salary Range: The referenced minimum to maximum salary is provided by Johns Hopkins University, subject to qualifications, location, experience, and other factors.

Benefits: Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package supporting health, life, career and retirement. For more information, see (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Equal Opportunity

Employer:

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for faculty, staff, and students. 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.