PREP0003261 Materials Research Scientist

PREP Research Associate

Opportunity No.: PREP0003261

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (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, and 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.

APPLY ONLINE HERE

Materials Research Scientist

The candidate will join a team of researchers working with advanced metrology methods to characterize local physical and chemical properties and map any variation in these properties of thin, nanometer-scale films (oxides, nitrides, carbides, germinides) deposited on Si and SiC wafers. The candidate will plan and conduct research using X-ray reflectivity, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to determine, through hybrid metrology, open-source analysis methods, and structural maps for wafers with thin films of essential interest to the semiconductor community.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Plan and research advanced X-ray metrologies to determine structural (physical and chemical) properties of blanket (non-patterned) thin films on Si and SiC wafers
• Use X-ray characterization methods, such as X-ray reflectivity, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, to determine the structural properties of thin film samples
• Use open-source (Python) fitting methods to constrain structural models, determine uncertainties, and combine these properties into a hybrid metrology digital wafer
• Perform wafer dicing, cleaning, and packaging of samples for distribution as a Research Grade Test Material to pair with the previously determined digital wafer model
• Publish results in refereed scientific journals and present results at conferences and meetings

Desired Qualifications: Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Ph.D. in physics, materials science, or another related field
• Background in X-ray measurement technique(s) required, either:
  • X-ray reflectivity, X-ray fluorescence, or X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• Background in programming and/or data modeling using Python (or equivalent) recommended
• Familiarity with thin film deposition and clean room access protocols, preferred
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work productively as part of a team and independently

Other Details:

• Full-time: the participant is expected to work 40 hours per week
• Location: Physically at the NIST Gaithersburg, MD campus
• Duration: this is a two-year and four-month position. Extensions are sometimes granted depending on the availability of funds.
• For questions related to the research project or the nature of the work in this position, please contact Dr. Donald Windover (donald.windover@nist.gov). For questions related to the online application or NIST PREP more generally, please contact msu-nistprep@morgan.edu.

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)

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 the administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1: NIST Associates.

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use the information you submit for the purpose stated.