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PREP0004186 Nanoparticles Researcher

Morgan State University - NIST PREP Program
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Nanoparticles Researcher

Project Description:

The Materials Measurement Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking qualified persons (U.S. Citizens preferred) to work on a NIST CHIPS R&D Metrology project that aims at developing measurement methodologies for the detection and identification of very low concentrations of contaminants in liquid environments. The focus area includes optimizing photonic enhancement techniques for improving the optical scattering of single impurity particles. In this regard, surface engineering methods, theoretical modeling, and optical microscopy are employed to design robust sensors for the detection of sub-20 nm particles. 

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Fabrication of optical cavities in a cleanroom/nanofabrication facility
  • Simulation of optical micro- and nano-cavities for optical traps for nanoparticle sensing
  • Construct/adapt optical microscopes for optical trapping and dark-field optical microscopy
  • Perform single particle detection and spectroscopy in a microfluidic setup
  • Perform different microscopies, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical microscopy (OM), equipped with a cryogenic stage for surface analysis  
  • Develop computer code (e.g, Python) for the development and analysis of optical cavities

Desired Qualifications: 

  • U.S. Citizen Preferred
  • Ph.D. degree in Materials, Electrical Engineering, or a related field 
  • Skilled in micro-fabrication, optical, and microfluidics, and optical sensing of particles
  • Highly experienced in designing nanoparticle trapping techniques using optical methods
  • Skilled in modeling electro-optical nano-systems to predict properties and fluid dynamics.
  • Highly skilled in multiple scripting languages, including MATLAB, Python, Optiwave (FDTD), COMSOL, Proteus, Lumerical, and LaTeX 
  • Demonstrated ability to develop prototype sensors integrated with optical fibers and detectors needed to detect and analyze the related data 

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.