General Description

Salary: $85,000-$89,000 a year

PREP Research Associate
CHIPS Funded Project.

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 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:

Rapid surface particle-, and impurity detection and quantification at a wafer scale

Background and overview of the project: 

The NIST CHIPS R&D Metrology project aims at developing measurement methodologies for detection and identification of very low concentration of impurities and nanoparticle contaminants at extremely low concentration regimes. More than 75% of particles on an integrated chip are from liquid contaminates that are introduced during the fabrication process. Currently, the main approaches for single particle (sub-20nm) counting include ICP-MS, and laser scattering. Industry is unable to measure & control baseline impurities below 1 ppt (parts per trillion, based on dissolved ions). The BIG concern is distinguishing the instrument noise from the actual particle signal. In response to these measurement challenges, this project aims at developing ways very low concentration of impurities can be detected and measured on a surface or in a stream within a microchannel. Two areas of focus under this project include a) understanding deposition patterns of nanoparticles and ionic impurity precursors on chemically functionalized surfaces, and nanoengineered surfaces as well as their governing factors, b) photonic enhancement techniques for boosting the scattering of single impurity points and particles.  

In this regard, novel surface chemistries and nano-optical engineering methods will be investigated. Methods need to be developed to test the performance of the nanoengineered surfaces by investigating their sensing and binding affinities towards different metal and non-metal ions/particles. Moreover, performing different microscopies are essential for testing the efficacy of the functionalized surfaces, so these surfaces can be iteratively improved. To improve these nanoengineered surfaces, simulation and modeling are also needed to identify more effective designs for enhancing the detection of sub-20 nm particles/impurities. Communication and collaboration with internal and external team members are essential for successful delivery of the objectives of this project as well as presentations and publications of results as appropriate.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Carrying micro/nanofabrication,
• Surface functionalization with appropriate chemical ligands
• Organic synthesis methods such as Click chemistry
• Impurity detection in high purity solvents,
• Performing single particle detection and spectroscopy for rapid particle sensing on a wafer scale,
• Different microscopies including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and optical microscopy (OM) equipped with a cryogenic stage for surface analysis.

§  Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.

§  Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been archived or otherwise transmitted to the larger organization.

Qualifications

§  PhD degree in Chemistry, and Materials, or a related field.

§  6 years of relevant experience in nanoscience and nanotechnology

§  Experienced in organic synthesis, and self-assembled monolayers

§  Experienced in metal nanoparticles, their coating, and plasmon sensing.

§  Experienced in fluorophores as probes for optical sensing

§  Experienced in hydrophobic and hydrophilic quantum dots and phase transfer methods

§  Ability to develop prototypes of tools needed to analyze data.

§  Strong oral and written communication skills.

Application Instructions

Please upload the following with your application:

-         CV/Resume

*Please limit C.V to 3 pages only and ONLY include a valid email address for your contact info. Please DO NOT include telephone numbers, home address or photos on your resume. 

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.

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.

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