Postdoctoral Research Associate in Infrared Materials Science for Quantum Information Applications

Working as a part of the Materials Thrust inside the Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage (C2QA), the successful applicant will undertake infrared studies of materials using both synchrotron and conventional lab sources at NSLS-II to help in the characterization, design, and advancement of the materials used in Qubit fabrication. Qubits are highly prone to errors because of interactions with their environment as well as defects in the qubit materials. The successful applicant will work with researchers at NSLS-II, the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN), and other partner institutions within C2QA to characterize these qubit materials using infrared spectroscopic techniques.  Other material systems exhibiting novel quantum phenomena and having potential for devices and other information technology will be of interest as well.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Spearhead a focused effort to enable cutting-edge infrared and terahertz (THz) methods and analytical tools.These tools are expected to include both far-field and near-field (nanospectroscopic) techniques and instruments.

• Develop methods to collect & analyze data and correlate measurements of transport dynamics and defect excitations in materials with their potential Qubit performance.

• Collaborate with a wide range of researchers across a variety of disciplines, including physics, chemistry, materials science & engineering - within BNL as well as externally.

• Publish and present the results of these studies to the scientific community.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• A Ph.D. degree in the Physical Sciences (Physics/Chemistry), Materials Science, or a closely related field.

• Experience in mid- and far-infrared (THz) spectroscopic techniques including FTIR or THz-TDS for materials at temperatures from ambient to 4K and below.

• Demonstrated record of scientific contribution through publications and talks in related fields.

• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse, discipline-spanning team of scientists and engineers.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Experience in two or more of the following:

• Experience with FTIR spectroscopy of solids, including superconductors as well as oxide materials.

• Experience with surface sensitive infrared techniques (grazing incidence and attenuated total reflection spectroscopies).

• Experience with atomic-force-microscopy-based nanospectroscopic methods.

• Experience in developing methods to effectively collate data from a range of experimental techniques to gain better insight into the materials under investigation.

• Experience with materials science or nanoscience.

POST-DOC

Candidates must have received a Ph.D. by the commencement of employment. BNL policy requires that after obtaining their 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.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Occasional domestic and international travel (5%)

Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. The full salary range for this position is $74,050.00 - $90,000.00 / year. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.

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Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country, learn more at BNL | Opportunities for Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

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