PREP0003539 Laser Scanner Performance Evaluation Researcher

PREP Research Associate

Opportunity No.: PREP0003539

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

Laser Scanner Performance Evaluation Researcher

The NIST Dimensional Metrology Group (DMG) is seeking a motivated individual with a background in engineering or physics to join our team. The DMG has a long history in developing test procedures to evaluate the performance of dimensional measurement systems (such as Cartesian coordinate measuring machines, laser trackers, terrestrial laser scanners, X-ray computed tomography systems). These test procedures are then absorbed into national and international documentary standards, providing traceability, enabling commerce, and ensuring the competitive advantage of US industries. The group recently acquired a laser scanner system. As a member of our multi-disciplinary team, you will collaborate closely with experts in dimensional metrology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science to develop test procedures to assess the performance of this system. You will work with team members to model observed systematic errors, propose methods to improve the accuracy of the system, and develop uncertainty budgets for measurements made with this system. You will present the work in internal meetings, conferences, and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Perform experiments to evaluate the performance of the laser scanner system
• Collaborate in the development of theoretical models of observed errors
• Conduct research to implement novel approaches to reduce any observed systematic errors
• Collaborate in the development of the uncertainty budget for measurements made using the system
• Present research findings at internal meetings, scientific conferences, and peer-reviewed journals

Desired Qualifications: Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• A bachelor’s or master’s in engineering or physics, or a related field
• A background in performing experimental work, data collection, and analysis
• Ability to control, operate, and automate scientific test equipment and instrumentation
• Familiarity with MATLAB or Python
• Strong oral and written communication skills

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 five-year 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. Bala Muralikrishnan ( bala.muralikrishnan@nist.gov). For questions related to the online application or NIST PREP more generally, please contact msu-nistprep@morgan.edu.

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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.

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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.