Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0004360) 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: Postdoctoral Research Associate: Advanced Optical Metrology for Semiconductor Processes

The work will entail: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking a driven Postdoctoral Researcher to bridge the gap between fundamental frequency comb spectroscopy and industrial semiconductor fabrication. Joining a multidisciplinary team, you will deploy electro-optic (EO) frequency combs to perform real-time, in-situ mid-IR spectroscopy of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) processes. Your work will directly impact the next generation of microelectronics by quantifying the partial pressures of deposition precursors and reaction byproducts with microsecond resolution.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Experimental Leadership: Drive the development and alignment of high-accuracy EO frequency comb spectrometers.
• Advanced Optical Metrology: Execute time-resolved molecular spectroscopy experiments; analyze complex data sets by fitting experimental spectra to molecular databases (e.g., HITRAN).
• Computational Analysis: Build and maintain Python-based tools for signal processing, noise reduction, automated data acquisition, and data analysis.
• Scientific Communication: Lead the authoring of high-impact manuscripts and represent NIST's research at international conferences.

Qualifications

• Education: Ph.D. in Physics, Chemistry, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
• Technical Expertise: Proven experience with optical measurements. Direct experience with frequency combs or molecular spectroscopy is highly desirable.
• Programming: Strong programming skills for data analysis and instrument interfacing.
• Soft Skills: A collaborative mindset suited for a fast-paced, multidisciplinary lab environment and excellent technical writing ability.
• U.S. Citizen Preferred