General Description

PREP Research Associate
CHIPS Funded Project.

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 and thus requires that such institutions be the recipients 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:

Development of neutron generator-based prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) instrument

The work will entail: 

The incumbent will lead an effort to extend the current reactor-dependent nuclear analytical techniques to those based on laboratory neutron sources, such as DD and DT neutron generators.  PGAA is a non-destructive nuclear analytical technique capable of multi-elemental analysis of materials, based on isotope specific prompt gamma ray emission from the deexcitation of the nucleus following thermal neutron capture. It is unique in the quantitative measurement of light elements such as B and H, with simultaneous determination of the major and minor matrix elements.  NIST is a world leader in employing reactor based thermal and cold neutron beam PGAA for the certification of standard reference materials (SRMs) and in material characterization in support of academic and industrial research and development.  The existing PGAA facilities at the NIST Center for Neutron Research offer one of the highest neutron intensities in the world.  However, there are limitations to large facility access due to reactor operation status. This project partially leverages the expertise gained in reactor-based nuclear analytical facilities for the development of their neutron generator-based counterparts. The main challenge is to overcome the lower neutron intensity by careful design of the neutron moderator and optimization of the detector shielding and geometry, and by exploiting the pulse nature of the generator for coincidence detection to achieve background reduction. 

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Design and implement a neutron moderator for the neutron generator to produce a thermal neutron irradiation sample position.
• Establish neutron and gamma ray detection systems including detectors and electronics for PGAA measurements for elemental analysis in semiconductor materials.
• Perform PGAA spectral analysis.
• Investigate coincidence detection scheme to enhance detection limits.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present at relevant meetings and conferences.

Qualifications

§  PhD in Nuclear Engineering or a related field.

§  Proficiency in radiation detection principles based on neutron and gamma ray interaction with materials. 

§  Experience with radiation transport simulations and demonstration of hands-on ability in the design and assembly of neutron moderators for optimal thermal output.

§  Expertise in nuclear digital and analog electronics related to operation of high purity germanium detectors and gamma ray spectrometry. 

Application Instructions

Please upload the following (preferably in a single PDF) with your application:

-         Cover Letter

-         CV/Resume 

*Please limit C.V to 2 pages only

*Do not include any personal information such as photos, home address or phone numbers

 

 

 

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 of the information you submit for the purpose stated.

 

Create a Job Alert for Similar Jobs

About Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University remains committed to its founding principle, that education for all students should be grounded in exploration and discovery. Hopkins students are challenged not just to learn but also to advance learning itself. Critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and entrepreneurship are all encouraged and nourished in this unique educational environment. After more than 130 years, Johns Hopkins remains a world leader in both teaching and research. Faculty members and their research colleagues at the university's Applied Physics Laboratory have each year since 1979 won Johns Hopkins more federal research and development funding than any other university. The university has nine academic divisions and campuses throughout the Baltimore-Washington area. The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering, the School of Education and the Carey Business School are based at the Homewood campus in northern Baltimore. The schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing share a campus in east Baltimore with The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Peabody Institute, a leading professional school of music, is located on Mount Vernon Place in downtown Bal...timore. The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies is located in Washington's Dupont Circle area.

Show more

Show less

Connections working at Johns Hopkins University

More Jobs from This Employer

https://careers.ceramics.org/jobs/20553552/postdoctoral-researcher-prep0002859

Return to Search Results