Organization Overview:

The Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) at Brookhaven is a DOE-funded national scientific user facility, offering users a supported research experience with top-caliber scientists and access to state-of-the- art instrumentation. The CFN mission is advancing nanoscience through frontier fundamental research and technique development and is the nexus of a broad collaboration network. Each year, CFN staff members support the research of nearly 600 external facility users.

Three strategic nanoscience themes underlie the CFN scientific facilities: The CFN conducts research on nanomaterial synthesis by assembly designing precise architectures with targeted functionality by organizing nanoscale components. The CFN researches and applies platforms for state-of-the-art techniques for Accelerated Nanomaterial Discovery, integrating synthesis, advanced characterization, physical modeling, and computer science to iteratively explore a wide range of material parameters. The CFN develops and utilizes advanced capabilities for studies of Nanomaterials in Operando Conditions for characterizing materials and reactions at the atomic scale in real-world environments.

Position Description:

In this position, you will lead research a project creating millimeter-wave superconducting devices using transition metal silicide materials, under the supervision of BNL scientists Mingzhao Liu and Charles Black. Your project will involve fundamental materials science and device physics investigations for applications in superconducting qubits. In this work, you will spend part of your time at NY Creates Albany NanoTech Complex, where you will collaborate with staff using 193 nm deep-UV ltihography to fabricate devices at 300mm-wafer scale.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• You will lead scientific investigations of superconducting devices made from transition metal silicide materials;

• You will fabricate and measure silicide QIS devices, including Josephson junctions and resonators, both lab-scale prototypes and participate in colloborations to fabricate devides at 300mm-wafer scales;

• You will conduct device characterization at DC and high frequency;

• You will participate in collaborations in materials optimization, device fabrication, and testing.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• You earned a Ph.D. in an appropriate discipline (Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, or Electrical Engineering) within the past five years;

• You are experienced with nanofabrication (cleanroom), including metal deposition, lithography (electron-beam lithography and photolithography), and etching;

• You have characterized materials and devices using electrical transport measurements and electron microscopy.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• You have a strong knowledge of superconductivity and quantum information science;

• You have performed low temperature electrical transport measurements and data analysis.

• You work effectively in a collaborative team to tackle challenging scientific problems;

• You can work independently within the team;

• You communicate effectively, both verbally and also through writing.

Other Information:

• This is a 2-year Postdoc Assignment.

• BNL policy requires that after obtaining a PhD, eligible candidates for research associate appointments may not exceed a combined total of 5 years of relevant work experience as a post- doc and/or in an R&D position, excluding time associated with family planning, military service, illness, or other life-changing events.

• This position is based at Upton, NY, but may involve a temporary assignment of approximately 3–6 months at the NYCreates Albany Nanotech Complex in Albany, NY, depending on project needs. The assignment is not guaranteed and will be determined based on program priorities. Travel, lodging, and related support for such an assignment would be provided in accordance with Brookhaven Laboratory policies.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. The full salary range for this position is $71900 - $80000/ year. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.