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:
Assistant Research Physicist, Spectroscopy of color centers in wide-bandgap semiconductors for quantum sensing
The work will entail:
Quantum sensing based on optically active defects (color centers) is an emerging opportunity to deploy SI-traceable measurements across a wide range of industries, including transportation, medicine, and resource exploration. The Nanoscale Spectroscopy Group seeks an assistant research physicist to conduct optical spectroscopy experiments on single-photon emitters and to control their emission using optical and magnetic spectroscopies. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of measurement methods for characterizing color centers in solid-state materials. The position will include operation and maintenance of optical setups, development of experimental and analysis programming code, and routine characterization of samples to support the NIST Color Center Quantum Sensing Program. With supervision, the candidate will develop high-resolution spectral characterization of NV diamond and other deterministic color centers; interrogate promising new materials such as color centers in GaN, Si, and SiC, etc.; characterize nanoscale optical property measurements, including single-center spin-based emission, time-resolved detection, and nanoscale magnetometry using quantum readout of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. The work impacts the goals of the nanoscale spectroscopy program to advance the development of engineered artificial atoms for nanoscale sensing and quantum applications. The candidate will interact with a broader team with expertise in spectroscopy and materials chemistry. Strong oral and written communication skills are necessary. Disseminate research results through open literature publication and technical talks at conferences.
Candidates must be eligible to obtain a Department of Commerce background check for facility access.
Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Creation of data acquisition, automation, and analysis routines using Python and other programming languages.
- Experience building and operating custom optical setups, including the safe operation of lasers, optical alignment, and automating instrument control.
- Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been archived or otherwise transmitted to the larger organization.
- Good written and oral communication skills.
- Presenting results at internal meetings and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.
- Experience with optical spin resonance and spin dephasing measurements, birefringence, scanning electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence, Raman Spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy are not required but strongly preferred.
Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering or a related field.
- At least 2 years of relevant experience.
- Familiarity with color centers, such as NV centers in Diamond and Si vacancies in SiC.
- Familiarity with scripting languages.
- Ability to work well in a group.
- 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.