Postdoctoral Associate or Research Associate

Job Summary

The Physics NIST-PREP Department invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate or Research Associate! This position focuses on developing and applying ultrafast extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and ultraviolet (UV) based metrology to understand and untangle the mechanisms involved in thermal transport at the nanoscale. Film-level and patterned arrays will be measured using a pump-probe method to measure the time dependence of heat flow allowing an estimation of the local thermal conductivity. Geometric, material and nonequilibrium effects on thermal transport will be investigated. These measurements will be correlated with theory and models being developed by collaborators. This position requires knowledge and skills in ultrafast optics and all associated alignment procedures, data analysis, and instrument/optics design as well as semiconductors and wide-bandgap systems.

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 want to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields. Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration's scientific research.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Designing, building, maintaining, and applying pulsed lasers to measure the dynamic change in reflectivity or diffraction of thin films and patterned nanostructures. This can include EUV diffraction and transient grating with UV systems.
• Analyzing data to relate the data to the thermal response.
• Working with collaborators to design experiments and sample systems.
• Presenting results at internal and external meetings.
• Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been backed up and archived.

What You Should Know

This position requires the successful completion of an NAIS agreement and federal security clearance as mandated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Employment is contingent upon approval of these requirements as determined by NIST.

• Anticipated start date is October 22, 2026.
• Anticipated end date is September 30, 2027.

What We Can Offer

• The salary range for the full-time Postdoctoral Associate position is $74,000 - $108,000 annually.
• The salary range for the full-time Research Associate position is $78,000 - $135,000 annually.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Postdoctoral Associate: A PhD degree or higher in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering or a related field with 0 - 4 years of post-doctoral degree experience.
• Research Associate: A PhD degree or higher in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering or a related field with 5+ years of post-doctoral degree experience.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Experience with the design and implementation of optical system.
• Experience with design, operation and maintenance of high-harmonic generation extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light sources.
• Experience with pump-probe and ultrafast optical system design.
• Experience with data analysis and modeling light-matter interactions.
• Experience developing novel data acquisition and instrument control platforms to acquire data.
• Ability to develop tools needed to analyze large datasets using Python, MATLAB, or similar programming environments.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume or CV
2. Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.

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. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

During the application process, you will need to enter contact information for one reference. We will request the letter of recommendation immediately following your application.

Please apply by November 11, 2026 for consideration.

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.