Postdoctoral Associate or Research Associate

Job Summary

The successful applicant will design, fabricate, and test superconducting quantum circuits to identify sources of dissipation and decoherence. The applicant will develop testing tools and procedures that allow quantitative intercomparison of the properties of different materials and designs. Relevant superconducting circuits include thin-film resonators, parametric amplifiers, tunnel junctions, transition-edge sensors, and qubits. Key goals are to advance the maturity of superconducting circuits for quantum information science.

About the Role

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (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.

Responsibilities

• Develop measurement tools and techniques to characterize and understand materials and devices for quantum information science (QIS) using superconducting circuits.
• Develop microfabrication tools and techniques to realize superconducting circuits.
• Interact with stakeholders in industry, academia, and government institutes to understand the needs of the QIS community, to strategically disseminate tools and techniques, and to seek external funding from sponsors with synergistic and mutually beneficial goals.

Qualifications

• Postdoctoral Associate: A PhD in a relevant area of study such as Physics, Astrophysics, Electrical Engineering, or related field with 0 – 4 years of post-doctoral degree experience.
• Research Associate: A PhD in a relevant area of study such as Physics, Astrophysics, Electrical Engineering, or related field with 5+ years of post-doctoral degree experience.

Skills

• Experience in scientific communication, assembly of scientific reports, and presentation of scientific and research topics.
• Familiarity with DevOps and CICD pipelines.
• Experience with Python or an equivalent scientific programming language.
• Experience with cleanroom and microfabrication techniques, especially for superconducting circuits.
• Experience with millikelvin refrigeration techniques and circuit testing at millikelvin temperatures.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Pay

The salary range for the full-time Postdoctoral Associate position is $74,000 - $108,000 annually. The salary range for the full-time Research Associate position is $78,000 - $135,000 annually.

Schedule

Full-time positions.