Postdoctoral Research Associate (Ge-STAR)

About the role

The Department of Physics at the University of South Dakota is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Ge-STAR (Germanium-Based Science and Technology and Advanced Research) project. This position is funded by the NSF EPSCoR RII E-RISE program and focuses on the end-to-end development of high-purity germanium (HPGe) technology.

Key Research Areas

The selected candidate will lead and support research activities in:

• Detector Development: Fabricating and characterizing HPGe detectors for low-mass dark matter searches and medical imaging applications.
• Crystal Growth: Advancing high-purity germanium crystal growth and zone-refining techniques.
• Quantum Technology: Developing emerging platforms, specifically germanium hole-spin qubits and next-generation quantum sensors.
• AI Integration: Collaborating with AI experts to integrate machine learning and autonomous agents into the crystal growth and device development workflow.

Required Qualifications

A Ph.D. in Physics, Materials Science, or a closely related field.
Strong background in experimental condensed matter physics, nuclear/particle physics, or cryogenic measurements.
Experience with semiconductor device fabrication or crystal growth is highly desirable.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to mentor graduate and undergraduate students within the Ge-STAR consortium.