Jobs UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER

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Professional Research Assistant or Sr. Professional Research Assistant

Requisition Number:

66798

Location:

Boulder, Colorado

City

Boulder

State

Colorado

Employment Type:

Research Faculty

Schedule:

Full-Time

Posting Close Date:

29-Aug-2025

Date Posted:

22-Aug-2025
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Job Summary

Fabrication of Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) in NIST’s Class 100 cleanroom.  Additional sample preparation and assembly outside a cleanroom environment.  Process development for fabrication, assembly and packaging of MEMS.  This position ends on 9/30/27.

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and thus requires that such institutions be the recipients 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 Fatigue and Fracture Group under the Applied Chemicals & Materials Division at NIST.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

  • Cleanroom fabrication of MEMS.  Processes includes: mask generation, photolithography, photoresist lift-off. Silicon wet etching, DRIE, XeF2 etching. SOI wafer processing.  Thin film deposition including thermal evaporation, e-beam evaporation, CVD, PECVD. Electroplating or electroless plating of metal films.  Sacrificial layer deposition, patterning and release.  Wet etching and RIE of films.  Polymer microfabrication such as with polyimide or SU8.  Double-sided wafer etching.  Wafer dicing, wafer bonding, chip bonding.
  • Cleanroom process development.
  • Mask layout, including for double sided wafer processing.
  • Characterization of fabricated structures using techniques such as: optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ellipsometry, profilometry, electrical continuity measurements with probe station.
  • MEMS packaging techniques such as: anodic bonding, wirebonding, flip-chip bonding, solder bonding.
  • Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.
  • Follow all lab safety protocols.
  • Ensuring that fabrication processes, protocols and documentation are archived or otherwise transmitted to the larger organization.

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 the 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.  By applying to a CHIPS-funded PREP opportunity, you also acknowledge that participation in the project requires signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to beginning any work.

What We Can Offer

  • The salary range for the full-time Professional Research Assistant position is $65,000 - $87,000 annually.
  • The salary range for the full-time Senior Professional Research Assistant position is $87,000 - $125,000 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

  • Professional Research Assistant:  MS degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science, or a related field with 0 – 9 years of post-baccalaureate with relevant experience.
  • Senior Professional Research Assistant:  MS degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science, or a related field with 10+ years of post-baccalaureate with relevant experience.

What We Would Like You to Have

  • At least 5 (five) years of class 100 cleanroom microfabrication experience beyond the MS degree.
  • Familiarity with as many fabrication processes under the “key responsibilities” section as possible.
  • Familiarity with MEMS layout software (L-edit preferred).
  • Other MEMS-related experience preferred (MEMS design, assembly, packaging, testing).
  • Some materials characterization experience preferred (e.g. SEM, EDS, XRD).
  • Some basic analog circuits experience preferred but not necessary.
  • Willingness to learn new processes and skills & to work independently and as part of a team.

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 a reference. We will request the letter of recommendation immediately following your application. 
 
Review of applications will begin immediately and remain open until August 29, 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