PREP0004308 Beamline Researcher

PREP Research Associate

Opportunity No.: PREP0004308

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

PREP0004308 Beamline Researcher

Project Description:

The NIST SURF III team operates an Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) reflectometry facility on an established beamline, making scores of measurements per year.    This mature facility is undergoing a complete replacement through a collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory’s Center for X-ray Optics.   The upgraded facility will provide improved capabilities, uncertainty, reliability, and throughput to meet the growing needs of the EUV lithographic (EUVL) industry.  The successful candidate will work with an interdisciplinary team to operate, maintain, upgrade, and commission the SURF III EUV reflectometry facility (beamline 7).  Research will include the development of a roadmap for an EUV reflectance standard to be used by the EUVL community.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Conduct a literature review of EUV multilayer mirror technology, EUV reference standards, and develop reports based on the review
• Work with a multidisciplinary team to operate, maintain, and upgrade beamline 7
• Work with Staff to develop a roadmap for EUV reflectometry reference standard
• Interact with NIST and partner institution staff to develop the mechanical design of components for an ultra-high vacuum synchrotron end-station using CAD software
• Run, optimize, and document data acquisition codes (LabVIEW and Python)
• Aid NIST staff in developing plans for beamline removal of legacy hardware and integration of new systems onto SURF III beamline 7
• Prepare written reports and documentation for sample measurement, operation of instrumentation, and safety
• Provide input for CHIPS quarterly progress reports

Desired Qualifications: 

• U.S. Citizen Preferred
• Ph. D. in physics, Engineering, or a related field 
• Experience with the following:
  • Optical metrology instrument and detector design
  • EUV lithography
  • Synchrotron beamline operations
  • Ultra-high vacuum systems and practices 
  • X-ray and/or EUV instruments
  • Use and development of data acquisition hardware and software (LabVIEW and Python)
  • Familiarity with CAD software
  • Statistical data analysis
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Other Details:

• Full-time: the participant is expected to work 40 hours a week
• Location: the participant will work at the NIST Gaithersburg Campus.
• Duration: this is expected to be a one-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. Steven Grantham (steven.grantham@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.