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:
Infrared Microscopy for Microplastics Characterization (U.S. Citizens preferred)
The work will entail:
The Material Measurement Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology is seeking qualified persons (U.S. Citizens preferred) to advance a novel quantum cascade laser (QCL) infrared (IR) microscopy technique for high-throughput measurement of size distribution and chemical identification of microplastic samples. The position will harness a groundbreaking QCL-IR imaging of microplastics in water by addressing nontrivial measurement problems due to the strong IR absorption by water and strong scattering contribution at <10 µm microplastics. The outputs of this work will help improve measurement assurance for microplastics characterization with less irregularity in sample preparation and more reproducibility in size quantitation. Working at NIST offers the rare opportunity to collaborate with world-class experts in a mission-driven environment, utilizing state-of-the-art microscopes to turn observations into reproducible science. It is a chance to leave a lasting legacy on the circular and champion sustainability by ensuring a foundation of sound measurement science.
Candidates must be eligible to obtain a Department of Commerce background check for facility access.
Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
Advance the instrumentation for high-throughput QCL-IR microscopy
Collect and analyze IR hyperspectral images of microplastics
Discuss progress and results with NIST staff
Present results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders
Write papers based on method advancements and datasets collected
Qualifications
Ph.D. degree in Chemistry, Physics, Polymer Physics, or a related field
2+ years of experience with IR microscopy
Ability to analyze vibrational spectral 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.