Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0003088) Full-time

Postdoctoral Fellow

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. 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.

The position available is for postdoctoral research on photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The postdoctoral researcher will work with NIST staff and other associates to develop optimized photonic test structures that will be incorporated in PIC process flows and enable extraction of key physical parameters associated with PIC performance, including absorption and scattering loss and refractive index dispersion. Test structures will be optimized for used in PICs based on the silicon-in-insulator, silicon nitride, and thin film lithium niobate platforms.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Perform a literature review to assess existing test structure designs and methodologies for PIC parameter extraction
• Set up electromagnetic simulation models of existing test structure geometries to enable simulation and optimization for specific PIC platforms
• Investigate methods to optimize test structure designs for more robust determination of photonic parameters
• Produce layouts and work with team members on fabrication and measurement of optimized test structure designs

Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders such as at photonics conferences or through peer-reviewed journal publications

Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been archived or otherwise transmitted to the larger organization.

A PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field

More than 3 years experience with Lumerical and Comsol electromagnetic simulation tools

Experience with device design and layout for photonics foundries

More than 2 years experience with photonic device characterization including linear spectroscopy

Familiarity with multiple scripting languages such as Matlab, C, and Python

Strong oral and written communication skills.

Please upload the following with your application:

• CV/Resume
• 2 professional references

*Please limit C.V to 3 pages only and ONLY include a valid email address for your contact info. Please DO NOT include telephone numbers, home address or photos on your resume.