Professional Research Assistant
Requisition Number:
64958
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
City
Boulder
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
Research Faculty
Schedule:
Full-Time
Posting Close Date:
20-Jun-2025
Date Posted:
16-Jun-2025
Job Summary
The Professional Research Assistant will contribute to a team which is attempting to design, build, and operate the world’s first optical network of superconducting quantum computers. This interdisciplinary project entails the design and construction of nonlinear optical systems capable of generating quantum states of light, precision measurements of those states, and the distribution of this light as an entanglement resource. At the nodes of the network, novel microwave-optical transducers are operated in a cryogenic environment to establish the vital interconnect with the qubit states of superconducting quantum processors. Through a NIST cleanroom fabrication effort, the transducers are being engineered into reliable, modular, telecom-ready devices. The Professional Research Assistant will have the opportunity to become involved with multiple aspects of this project which match their research interests while strengthening an array of skills through hands-on laboratory tasks, design challenges, data analysis, and theoretical considerations.
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 High-Speed Wave-form Metrology Group under the RF Technology Division at NIST.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
- Learn how to generate squeezed microwave states with the nonlinearity of a traveling-wave parametric amplifier operated at millikelvin temperatures.
- Learn how to perform precision heterodyne measurements of squeezed microwave states to quantify their quantum characteristics and suitability for network operation.
- Learn how to perform precision optical and electrical characterization of novel vibrating membrane quantum transducers in different operating modes and interpret results as a quantum information channel.
- Learn how to upconvert squeezed microwave states to squeezed optical states in a quantum transducer limited by efficiency and added noise.
- Learn how to operate and maintain a cryogenic dilution refrigerator.
- To provide technical input to research problems which have been recognized as critical obstacles to progress in quantum networking.
- To prepare journal manuscripts, attend research conferences, and present technical results.
- To work as a member of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team of graduate students, post-docs, and professionals.
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 this full-time posting is $54,000 - $65,000 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 creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.
What We Require
Bachelor’s degree in a field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Knowledge of physics, electrical engineering, computer science, and/or quantum information theory.
- Experience with measurement equipment such as signal generators, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, electrical amplifiers, photodetectors, power meters, Fabry-Perot cavities, and lock-in detectors and feedback circuits.
- Familiarity with precision optical, electrical, and microwave measurement techniques.
- Knowledge of cryogenics and dilution refrigerator operating principles is advantageous.
- Ability to write code with MATLAB, LabView, and Python is required.
- Familiarity with optical design software (e.g. Zemax, Code V, OSLO), mechanical design software (e.g. COMSOL), or microwave design software (e.g. HFSS, AWS) is desirable.
- Experience with electrical circuit design, soldering, and debugging is required.
- Familiarity with opto-mechanic design, computer-aided design, and machine shop skills is desirable.
- Familiarity with building materials, hardware, and basic construction and assembly methods.
- Comfortable working with hands doing manual tasks.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
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 20, 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