Postdoctoral Researcher: Interferometric Microscopy Gene Delivery Nanoparticle Characterization

PREP Research Associate: This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (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.

Description: The Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks an enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher to advance novel interferometric optical microscopy techniques for single-particle, multiparameter characterization of nanoparticles at high-through puts. The postdoc will work closely with a collaborative, multidisciplinary team of researchers to design, build, and model new optical microscopes to provide physical measurements (such as mass, size, concentration, composition) of nanoparticles, with a focus on gene delivery nanoparticles.

These physical parameters are crucial to the development and optimization of gene delivery therapies. For additional details about this research, please visit our program website: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Contact Aaron Goldfain (aaron.goldfain).

• Designing, improving, and using custom-built, laser-based light scattering microscopes for quantitative nanoparticle characterization.
• Building new optical models of gene delivery nanoparticles and interferometric microscopes.
• Conducting experimental investigations to validate instrument performance and characterize nanoparticle physical characteristics and heterogeneity.
• Collaborating with researchers to develop innovative algorithms for data analysis and interpretation.
• Collaborating with researchers to evaluate the impact of particle heterogeneity on gene delivery efficacy.
• Publishing research in peer‑reviewed journals and presenting 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.

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