Job Details

Professional Research Assistant

Position Number: 6148552
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Laboratory and Research

Professional Research Assistant

Requisition Number: 63323
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 06-May-2025
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Professional Research Assistant will research and develop metrology techniques for Radio Frequency (RF) waveforms and plasma generated in an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) chamber. Utilize optical instrumentation and diagnostic tools to create methods for characterizing plasma parameters, including ion and electron distributions, within the chamber. An RF source, with a frequency range of 100 kHz to 200 MHz and a nominal power of 5 kW, will be used to generate plasma. The standard ICP chamber will be modified to integrate optical diagnostic methods using ultrashort pulses in a dual comb or pump-probe system/ Plasma properties, including ion and electron distributions, will be monitored using spectroscopy and imaging tools, and RF waveform impacts will be mapped. Collaborate and communicate with team members, other NIST teams, and external partners, and present and publish results as needed.

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). 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.
The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

PREP is a special partnership between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder. PREP provides research opportunities to CU undergraduate and graduate students, as well as researchers with a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in NIST labs to gain research experience alongside NIST scientists.

The particular group that needs a researcher is the RF Technology Division - HQ under the RF Technology Division at NIST.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Vacuum systems and diagnostic chambers.
Automation and synchronized measurement systems.
Optical or electrical engineering.
Design and implementation of measurement systems involving spectroscopy, lasers, and electronics.
MATLAB or Python programming.

What You Should Know

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 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.

What We Can Offer

Candidates with Bachelor's Degree: The salary range for the full-time Professional Research Assistant is $53,500 - $65,000 annually.

Candidates with Master's Degree: The salary range for the full-time Professional Research Assistant is $62,000 - $125,000 annually.

Onboarding/relocation assistance may be available, however, if within a 12-month period you exercise your right to willfully terminate your employment with the University of Colorado, you hereby agree to reimburse the department for your relocation expense.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related field.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume/CV
Cover Letter
(Optional) Transcripts/Proof of Degree: If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources Department using an approved online vendor. However, if your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit an English-translated version as an Optional document.

During the application process, you will need to enter contact information for a reference. We will request the letter of recommendation immediately following your application. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until May 6th, 2025.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Professional-Research-Assistant/63323