This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields. Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration's scientific research.
Research Title:
Integrated Photonics for Quantum Sensing
The work will entail:
We are looking for a postdoctoral scholar to design, fabricate, and/or test integrated photonics for one or more of the following application areas:
- Meta-optics for coupling to free-space optical modes, e.g., interfaces to atomic systems
- High-Q optical microcavities for laser frequency stabilization and precision sensing
- Electro-optics for light modulation and/or phase control
- Robust test structures for characterizing nanofabrication accuracy, identifying optical losses, etc.
This work will be highly collaborative with interactions spanning multiple labs across NIST. The postdoc will work with a team to carry out the design/fabricate/test workflow, where “design” entails simulating integrated photonic structures to estimate optical properties such as loss and dispersion, and creating GDS layouts of designs; “fabricate” entails using tools supported by the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, such as EBL and LPCVD, to realize designed structures; and “test” entails performing measurements of the fabricated structure’s optical properties using lasers, spectrometers, etc.
Candidates must be eligible to obtain a Department of Commerce background check for facility access.
Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Analyze heterogeneous data sources.
- Use analysis to iterate device designs and collaborate with others to do so.
- Present results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.
- Publish results in the relevant scientific literature when appropriate.
Qualifications
- PhD in physics, electrical engineering, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience, as evidenced by publications or recommendations, with integrated photonics.
- Familiarity with electromagnetics simulation software such as COMSOL or Lumerical.
- Familiarity with nanofabrication techniques such as EBL and LPCVD.
- Familiarity with optical measurement techniques for loss, dispersion, noise, etc.
- Ability to develop prototypes of tools needed to analyze data.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.