Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0003231) 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 and thus requires that such institutions be the recipients 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.

Research Title: Implementing Cutting-Edge Technologies for the Realization of Kelvin at NIST

The NIST Temperature and Humidity Group is seeking a motivated individual with a background in physics, or chemical engineering or material engineering to join our Standard Platinum Resistance Thermometer Calibration Laboratory (SPRTCL). The SPRTCL is the main facility in the United States responsible for realizing the kelvin using the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90). The laboratory ensures the most precise temperature measurements with the lowest realized and transferred uncertainties, using Standard Platinum Resistance Thermometers (SPRTs) calibrated against nine fixed points ranging from Argon (-189°C) to Silver (961°C). As a member of our multi-disciplinary team, you will collaborate closely with experts in instrumentation, metrology, physics, and engineering to develop and enhance temperature measurement techniques and calibration systems. The laboratory is undergoing major equipment upgrades, and we seek a highly motivated individual to contribute to implementing these upgrades, ensuring the continued precision and accuracy of the United States' national temperature standards.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Contribute to the design, testing, and integration of advanced temperature calibration equipment, ensuring that upgrades align with NIST's standards and precision goals.
• Collaborate in the implementation of new equipment and methodologies that will enhance the SPRTCL's calibration capabilities and further minimize uncertainties in temperature measurements.
• Conduct research to explore new methods, tools, and technologies to enhance the precision of temperature measurements and reduce calibration uncertainties.
• Investigate novel approaches for improving the reliability and accuracy of temperature calibration, with an emphasis on the realization of the Kelvin and the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90).
• Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of equipment upgrades, experimental protocols, calibration results, and research findings to ensure transparency and reproducibility.
• Ensure that all results, protocols, software, and documentation are archived properly and shared with the larger NIST community and relevant stakeholders.
• Present research findings, technological developments, and calibration results at internal meetings, external stakeholder meetings, and scientific conferences.

Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in physics or chemical engineering or material engineering. A background in conducting experimental research, particularly related to temperature measurement, high-precision instrumentation, or metrology, is important. Ability to control, operate and automate scientific test equipment and instrumentation. Familiarity with design and simulation tools like SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, MuMax, OOMMFi COMSOL, or similar. Familiarity with the programming languages Python, Matlab, or LabVIEW. Strong oral and written communication skills.