Postdoctoral Researcher - Silicon Crystal Growth

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado and is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions.

About the role

This Postdoctoral Researcher position is within the High Efficiency Crystalline Photovoltaics group in the Materials Science Center at NLR. The group consists of two teams working on Silicon and III-V materials, the latter by hydride vapor phase epitaxy. The position focuses on developing a new method to grow silicon boules using a combined float-zone technique with chemical vapor deposition.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will contribute to designing and building a new deposition system based on CFD modeling and use the system to grow single crystal boules of silicon from a silane gas source. The role involves extensive characterization and analysis of the resulting materials.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and test a new silicon boule float-zone system incorporating silane chemical vapor deposition.
• Work with vacuum hardware and chemical vapor deposition of silane gas.
• Characterize grown material for chemical purity and crystalline defects.
• Present project data at biweekly team meetings and to project sponsors.
• Publish research findings in journals.
• Collaborate with a computational fluid dynamic modeling team to optimize system design.
• Provide input to technoeconomic and lifecycle modeling teams.
• Adhere to and promote NLR’s strong safety culture.
• Support a collaborative work environment that maximizes innovative ideas and contributions.

Requirements

• Recent PhD graduate within the last three years.
• Ph.D. in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical or Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in growth, characterization, and/or processing of materials, bulk crystal growth, epitaxial growth, or growth of polycrystalline/amorphous thin films.
• Skills in interpreting and assessing experimental results.
• Good interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Self-starting attitude and initiative.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in growth, characterization, and/or processing of silicon materials.
• Experience in mechanical design and building of vacuum chambers.
• Experience in silicon growth using silane gas.
• Familiarity with computational fluid dynamic, thermodynamic, or kinetic modeling.
• Strong publication record.

Skills

• Metal machining, CAD drawing, system and parts design.
• Vacuum build and operation experience.

Pay

Annual salary range: $76,600 - $126,400 (based on full-time 40 hours per week). NLR considers education, training, experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel, external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining salary.

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.
• Eligibility for performance-, merit-, and achievement-based awards with a monetary component (not guaranteed).
• Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.

Schedule

40 hours per week.

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card, which includes a favorable background investigation. NLR is a drug-free workplace; pre-employment drug testing is required and includes screening for marijuana.