Postdoctoral Researcher - Development of Thin Film Nitride Materials

About the role

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is seeking a recent PhD graduate to join the Materials Discovery and Development group. The position focuses on thin film synthesis and characterization of nitride materials by physical vapor deposition (sputtering).

Responsibilities

• Support several collaborative basic science and applied development projects exploring emerging nitride thin films for applications including semiconductors, ultrawide bandgap semiconductors, piezo/ferroelectric materials, and radiation detectors.
• Focus on the development of sputter deposition processes and characterization workflows using NLR's next-generation autonomous semiconductor development suite, created as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's METALLIC platform.
• Design and perform thin film synthesis and characterization experiments.
• Collaborate with other scientists and engineers at NLR and at partner institutions.
• Disseminate results in the form of conference presentations and scientific publications.
• Set up and maintain existing experimental equipment.
• Improve or create data collection and analysis tools.

Requirements

• Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• Prior hands-on experience with vacuum-based synthesis of functional thin film materials, using physical vapor deposition, such as reactive sputtering, pulsed laser deposition, or molecular beam epitaxy.
• Hands-on experience with and in-depth knowledge of one or several materials characterization methods, such as x-ray diffraction/scattering, optoelectronic measurements (photoluminescence, Raman, transport), electrical characterization (piezo- or ferroelectric characterization, etc.).
• Strong knowledge of inorganic thin films and semiconductor materials, particularly oxides, nitrides, wide band gap semiconductors and dielectrics, piezoelectrics/ferroelectrics, or related material systems.
• Established track record in scientific writing, presentation, publishing, and communication.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to maintain complex synthesis and characterization instruments, particularly vacuum-based equipment.
• Experience with simple device fabrication in a cleanroom setting (photolithography, etching, electron beam evaporation, etc.).
• Prior experience with automated, autonomous, and high-throughput experimental (combinatorial) research methods and techniques.
• Active computer skills in programming (e.g., Python, LabView, C/Igor Pro, etc.), statistical data analysis, and/or software development.
• Good understanding of solid-state chemistry, crystallography, materials design principles and structure-property relationships in inorganic materials.
• Strong motivation, ability to work on collaborative projects, ability to balance different types of tasks and deadlines.

Skills

• Programming (e.g., Python, LabView, C/Igor Pro, etc.)
• Data analysis
• Software development
• Solid-state chemistry
• Crystallography
• Materials design principles
• Structure-property relationships in inorganic materials

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Short-term disability insurance
• Pension benefits
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match
• Life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Personal time off (PTO) and sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Performance-, merit-, and achievement-based awards
• Relocation expense reimbursement (eligibility varies)

Pay

$76,600 - $126,400 annually

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week