Postdoctoral Fellow; PREP

PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas.

Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.

U.S. Citizen Preferred

Postdoctoral Researcher:
Interferometric Microscopy for Gene Delivery Nanoparticle Characterization

• Design, improve, and use custom-built, laser-based light scattering microscopes for quantitative nanoparticle characterization.
• Build new optical models of gene delivery nanoparticles and interferometric microscopes.
• Conduct experimental investigations to validate instrument performance and characterize nanoparticle physical characteristics and heterogeneity.
• Collaborate with researchers to develop innovative algorithms for data analysis and interpretation.
• Collaborate with researchers to evaluate the impact of particle heterogeneity on gene delivery efficacy.
• Publish research in peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific conferences.

• A PhD in Physics, Optics, Biophysics, or a related field.
• Completed PhD within the last 5 years.
• Familiarity or experience with optical models of particle light scatter and/or optical instruments.
• Familiarity or experience with optical imaging and/or microscopy.
• Enthusiasm for learning new theoretical, computational, and experimental techniques.
• Programming experience with Python, MATLAB, or similar.

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its 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. 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.