Professional Research Assistant or Sr. Professional Research Assistant
Requisition Number:
65143
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
City
Boulder
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
Research Faculty
Schedule:
Full-Time
Posting Close Date:
27-Jun-2025
Date Posted:
25-Jun-2025
Job Summary
The Professional Research Assistant or Senior Professional Research Assistant will have opportunities to assist staff with data acquisition and calibration of channel-sounding systems and phased-array antennas at 15 GHz, 28 GHz, 60 GHz, 83 GHz, and 140 GHz for indoor and outdoor use. Additional work involves calibration and verification of the performance of the channel sounders and antenna systems, including experiment design, data acquisition, data processing, analysis of key quantities and performance metrics, and documentation of results. The researcher will assist in developing synchronization, control interfaces, timing circuitry and beam steering algorithms for the phased-array antenna channel sounders to allow for efficient data acquisition and field measurements.
A high-priority activity within the Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a program to develop metrology for future generation mobile wireless communication systems. This involves the development of phased-array-based channel sounders, which are used to characterize the propagation environment. Propagation data collected by the sounders is used to develop channel models and support new technology needed for NextG communications.
The NIST Radio Access and Propagation Metrology Group is located within the NIST Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL). Recruiting, developing, and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to the NIST mission of enhancing innovation. Through a diversity of people, disciplines, and ideas, we find the best solutions. The NIST Postdoctoral and Early-career Association of Researchers (PEAR) is a vibrant community advocating for professional development opportunities for postdocs, students, and other early-career researchers.
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.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected 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 Communications Technology Laboratory HQ Group at NIST.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
- Develop and characterize phased-array channel sounders for data acquisition efforts.
- Design and perform experiments and compare experimental results to theoretical models.
- Supply high quality measurements to project modelling team for analysis.
- Keep a well-maintained log of experimental activities.
- Disseminate research through peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and other presentations.
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 of 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 Professional Research Assistant position is $67,000 - $100,000 annually.
- The salary range for the full-time Senior Professional Research Assistant position is $77,000 - $124,000 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 inspired. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Professional Research Assistant: Master’s in Electrical Engineering or related field with 0 – 9 years of relevant post-bachelor’s degree experience.
- Senior Professional Research Assistant: Master’s in Electrical Engineering or related field with 10+ years of relevant post-bachelor’s degree experience.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Research experience involving one or more of the following areas: Communications systems, digital signal processing, channel sounding, systems engineering and/or RF electronics.
- Solid understanding of RF engineering, EM theory, mathematics, instrumentation, and advanced timing systems.
- Programming skills for instrumentation control, signal processing and analysis are required (MATLAB/python/etc.) including basic low-level programming of microcontrollers for phased array control (c/c++).
- Familiarity and ability to perform laboratory measurements using test equipment such as high-speed digitizers, VNAs, Spectrum Analyzers, Power meters, frequency counters.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- Resume/CV
- Cover Letter
(Optional) Transcripts/Proof of Degree: 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 June 27, 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