Postdoctoral Fellow (PREP0003197)
PREP Research Associate
This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.
Research Title:
Experimental Materials Scientist for Materials Metrology and Database Development
The work will entail:
The Materials Measurement Science Division within the Material Measurement Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is currently developing a comprehensive, high-precision materials property database aimed at improving substrate tables used in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. This database will incorporate the thermal and dimensional properties of metallic and ceramic materials, utilizing both computational and experimental methods.
To support this effort, we are seeking an innovative and detail-oriented Experimental Materials Scientist to join our multidisciplinary team. This position is expected to be at the postdoctoral level and is funded through FY27. The Experimental Materials Scientist will be responsible for conducting high-precision measurements to acquire high-fidelity experimental data, which will be used to validate computational predictions.
Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Conduct high-precision characterization of metallic and ceramic materials using synchrotron-based X-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal conductivity measurements
- Perform rigorous data analysis, including the development and improvement of metrological techniques in the context of this project, to ensure accuracy and reliability in the above measurements
- Collaborate closely with NIST scientists to design experiments and integrate experimental data into computational frameworks
Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in materials science and engineering or a related field
- Strong technical background in materials science and engineering, particularly in advanced manufacturing, including additive manufacturing
- Experience in materials characterization using TEM, APT, SEM, XRD, nanoindentation, or DSC
- Proven track record in establishing structure-property relationships for complex metallic or ceramic materials
- Strong publication record, particularly in high-impact journals related to advanced manufacturing and materials science
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Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor’s degree holders, graduate students, master’s degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.
PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.
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