Jobs UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER

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Postdoctoral Associate or Research Associate

Requisition Number:

62675

Location:

Boulder, Colorado

City

Boulder

State

Colorado

Employment Type:

Research Faculty

Schedule:

Full-Time

Posting Close Date:

28-Mar-2025

Date Posted:

21-Mar-2025
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Job Summary

The successful applicant will measure quasiparticle dynamics ins superconducting circuits and develop quasiparticle mitigation techniques for superconducting circuits including superconducting qubits and quantum sensors.  The mitigation techniques could include the use of electrothermal feedback in transition-edge sensors or tunnel junction-based structures and will make use of superconducting materials, low temperatures, and quantum mechanical effects.  Key goals are to increase the robustness of qubit and quantum sensor to background radiation and cosmic rays.

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, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient 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 Quantum Electronics Group at NIST.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

  • Measure quasiparticle lifetimes at ultra-low temperatures in a variety of relevant superconducting materials.
  • Develop design of transition-edge sensors to protect superconducting qubits.
  • Explore the use of tunnel junctions to remove quasiparticles from superconducting qubits.
  • Measure the impact of transition-edge sensors and tunnel junction-based quasiparticle mitigation techniques on qubit coherence and lifetimes.
  • Regularly communicate work status to group members and disseminate results through internal and external publications and presentations.  Interact with internal and external collaborators.  Disseminate results through publications and presentations.
  • Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.

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

  • The salary range for the full-time Postdoctoral Associate position is $71,000 - $104,000 annually.
  • The salary range for the full-time Research Associate position is $80,000 - $115,000 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

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

What We Would Like You to Have

  • Four (4) or more years of relevant experience.
  • Familiarity with measurement of superconducting devices.
  • Familiarity with cryogenic and room-temperature microwave components.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:
  1. Resume/CV
  2. Cover Letter
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 March 28, 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.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Lisa Valencia

Posting Contact Email: recruitprep@colorado.edu