Research Associate, Epitaxy

Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

• The Employment Equity Act , which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

City: Ottawa

Organizational Unit: Quantum and Nanotechnologies

Classification: RO

Tenure: Term

Duration: Two (2) years

Language Requirements: English

Work arrangements: Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified.

Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2025 one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers!

As Canada’s leading research and technology organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey.

From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

The Quantum and Nanotechnologies (QN) Research Centre is seeking a Research Associate in Epitaxy to support its research programs in advanced photonic and quantum technologies. The successful candidate will share the organization’s core values of integrity, excellence, respect, and creativity, and will contribute to research activities that strengthen the NRC’s capabilities in III–V semiconductor technologies.

The primary responsibility of this position is to support the goals of the NRC and the QN Research Centre through the research, development, and application of III–V epitaxial growth techniques for optoelectronic and quantum devices.

The Research Associate will work in a collaborative team environment alongside researchers and technical specialists in world‑class facilities. In addition to hands‑on research activities, the role includes contributing to the development of new research proposals, supporting project management activities, providing technical services to NRC clients, and offering input into the overall research direction and priorities of the program area in alignment with the QN business plan.

Working closely with QN staff and external partners, the successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing, operating, and troubleshooting a molecular beam epitaxy laboratory dedicated to the growth of arsenide- and antimonide-based III–V semiconductor heterostructures. The candidate will design and grow advanced epitaxial structures and will characterize these materials using a range of optical and structural analysis tools available at the QN Research Centre, including X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence spectroscopy.

The current research focus of the III–V MBE laboratory is the development of arsenide- and antimonide-based optoelectronic and quantum devices. These include quantum well diode lasers, quantum cascade lasers, interband cascade lasers, two-dimensional electron gas structures, and infrared and terahertz detectors. These technologies are key enabling components for applications in imaging, sensing, and quantum technologies, covering a wide spectral range from near-infrared to terahertz.

The Research Associate will conduct cutting‑edge research on arsenide- and/or antimonide-based material growth, building upon existing research directions and developing new projects aligned with QN strategic priorities. The role requires close collaboration within multidisciplinary…