Engineering a world of possibilities Post-Doctoral Fellow of Materials Science in collaboration with NIST

Colorado School of Mines invites applications for a position which is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program in support of CHIPS Act project "Electro-acoustic metrology of piezoelectric materials for wireless communications". 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.

Primary responsibilities will be film growth by reactive magnetron sputtering, chemical and structural characterization, and measurement, interpretation, and analysis of electrical and electromechanical properties. Such work will be carried out in close collaboration with partners at NIST as well as the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), industry partners, and colleagues at other universities. The position will require publishing findings in peer reviewed journals, presenting the work at project meetings and scientific conferences, and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students. Ample opportunity for authoring and co-authoring funding proposals will also be provided. The candidate must be comfortable with the measurement and interpretation of piezoelectric properties, ferroelectric hysteresis, and/or semiconductor devices.

Responsibilities

Thin film growth (and monitoring / optimization of such) via reactive magnetron sputtering

Measurement, interpretation, analysis, and reporting of structural, chemical, electrical, and electromechanical characteristics of thin films

Mentoring students working on collaborative projects

Interaction with interdisciplinary partners on publication, reporting, and device prototyping

Play critical role in writing up research for project reports and archival journals and presenting results at national and international conferences.

Minimum Qualifications

Ph.D. in materials science and engineering or related field with an emphasis on semiconductor devices, functional ceramics, or related topics completed by 01/2024

Basic experience with vacuum chambers

Experience with materials characterization such as x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, Scanning probe microscopy, etc.

Measurement and interpretation of electrical properties using probe station.

Laboratory safety training

Strong oral and written communication in English language

Preferred Qualifications

Film growth via RF magnetron sputtering

Textured/epitaxial film analysis via advanced diffraction techniques such as rocking curve, pole figure, and/or reciprocal space mapping.

Measurement and analysis of piezoelectric and/or ferroelectric properties

Characterization of RF resonator devices.

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines' scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 38 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2023).

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on inves ment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that's manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 "Very High Activity" research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world's problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a diverse and inclusive community, where our different perspectives, experiences and cultures enrich the educational and work experience?