Quantum Materials Faculty Fellowship at DEVCOM-SC

About the role

The Department of Defense (DoD) is offering a faculty fellowship opportunity at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC).

What will I be doing?

• Engage with a community of scientists, engineers, and researchers investigating quantum and nonlinear optics in semiconductor-free emerging sensing materials (plasmonic metal metasurfaces).
• Consider how these materials might represent the first steps to a new generation of inexpensive and uncooled sensors.
• Investigate whether the experimentally observed optical rectification (OR) current is a new quantum mechanical effect.
• Evaluate whether this could enable new high-sensitivity and/or high-selectivity sensing (including potentially quantum sensing).
• Gain experience carrying out basic fabrication, experiments, design, and theory of new DEVCOM SC nonlinear plasmonic optoelectronic material metasurfaces.
• Design and fabricate detailed heat trapping and thermal management materials and stacks of materials, using infrared (IR) management principles (radiation physics and resonant nanoparticles).

Why should I apply?

• Expand learning in several areas, including but not limited to:
• Fabricating new plasmonic (gold) metasurfaces for optoelectronic and nonlinear optical experiments.
• Participating in quantum mechanical investigations into how spin-orbit scattering, Berry curvature, and Berry curvature dipole, which explain the nonlinear Hall effect, could potentially explain the observed experimental OR current.
• Using experimental probes such as x-ray and other material analysis techniques, imaging, probe-based microscopy, visible/infrared spectroscopy, etc., to compare new experimental results from these metasurfaces to theoretical predictions.
• Evaluating new technology for protecting and enabling Soldiers and Warfighters, including sensing/imaging, quantum sensing, and quantum communications using these new sensing materials.
• Publishing scientific results and presenting them for peer review at optics and optoelectronics conferences such as SPIE, Optica, or MRS conferences.
• Designing and fabricating detailed heat trapping and thermal management materials and stacks of materials, using infrared (IR) management principles (radiation physics and resonant nanoparticles).

Where will I be located?

Natick, Massachusetts

What is the anticipated start date?

The DEVCOM SC is ready to make appointments immediately. Exact start dates will be determined at the time of selection and in coordination with the selected candidate. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and internships will be filled as qualified candidates are identified.

What is the appointment length?

Faculty appointments are generally for 10-12 weeks during the summer, but appointments during the academic year are also available. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

What are the provisions?

• A stipend to be determined by DEVCOM-SC. Stipends are typically based on a participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location.
• Health Insurance Supplement (Participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE)
• Relocation Allowance
• Training and Travel Allowance

About DEVCOM SC

The U.S. Combat Capabilities Development Command - Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC) is located at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts, under the Army's Futures Command. Stretching back to 1954, the CCDC Soldier Center's history of support for the Soldier has continued uninterrupted for more than six decades, with a focus on Soldier-related research, development, testing and evaluation efforts. If Soldiers wear it, eat it, sleep under it, or have it airdropped to them in theater, it can be traced back to the CCDC Soldier Center. Diverse expertise comprised of scientists, engineers, technologists and equipment designers, the CCDC Soldier Center provides a wide range of capabilities to the Soldier, to include field feeding and life support systems, protective clothing, precision airdrop systems, and ballistic, chemical and laser-protection systems, and human performance optimization.

About ORISE

This program, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and DoD. Participants do not enter into an employment relationship with DoD or any other agency. Instead, you will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE. For more information, visit the ORISE Research Participation Program at the U.S. Department of Defense.

Application Requirements

• Zintellect Profile
• Educational and Employment History
• Essay Questions (goals, experiences, and skills relevant to the opportunity)
• Resume (PDF)
• 1 Recommendation. We encourage you to contact your recommender as soon as you start your application to ensure they are able to complete the recommendation form and to let them know to expect a message from Zintellect. Recommenders will be asked to rate your scientific capabilities, personal characteristics, and describe how they know you. You can always log back in to your Zintellect account and check the status of your application.

Citizenship

U.S. Citizen Only

Degree

Any degree

Discipline(s)

• Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12)
• Communications and Graphics Design (2)
• Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (17)
• Earth and Geosciences (21)
• Engineering (29)
• Environmental and Marine Sciences (14)
• Life Health and Medical Sciences (51)
• Mathematics and Statistics (11)
• Physics (16)
• Science & Engineering-related (2)
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (29)

Application Requirements

• Zintellect Profile
• Educational and Employment History
• Essay Questions (goals, experiences, and skills relevant to the opportunity)
• Resume (PDF)
• 1 Recommendation. We encourage you to contact your recommender as soon as you start your application to ensure they are able to complete the recommendation form and to let them know to expect a message from Zintellect. Recommenders will be asked to rate your scientific capabilities, personal characteristics, and describe how they know you. You can always log back in to your Zintellect account and check the status of your application.