JPL Postdoctoral Fellow - MBE Enabled UV Sensing for Space Instrumentation
About the role
New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL. Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.
Responsibilities
This postdoctoral role focuses on advancing next‑generation ultraviolet detector technologies for future NASA missions. The position centers on molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) for materials growth, band‑structure engineering, and interface optimization to enable high‑performance, space‑ready photodetectors. The researcher will design and refine wafer‑scale fabrication processes, develop new epitaxial passivation strategies, and perform materials and device characterization using techniques such as AFM, SEM, TEM, XRD, and photodetector performance testing. A key element of the work is establishing a tight feedback loop between detector behavior and fabrication process improvements. This effort directly supports technology maturation and mission infusion across multiple NASA programs. The successful candidate will document progress through publications, presentations, and internal reports while contributing to the development of flight‑ready UV detector architectures.