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Professional Research Assistant

Requisition Number:

70199

Location:

Gaithersburg, Maryland

City

Gaithersburg

State

Maryland

Employment Type:

Research Faculty

Schedule:

Full-Time

Posting Close Date:

11-Mar-2026

Date Posted:

25-Feb-2026
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Job Summary

Commercial phase change materials (PCMs) in the US and EU markets are incorporated in macro- and micro-encapsulations for latent heat storage in building energy applications.  The thermal conductivity and the specific heat capacity of these PCM products, which are usually reported in the specification’s datasheet and are measured by a Heat Flow Meter (HFM), are the main thermal data used for installation guidance and energy saving calculations.  However, these measurements exhibit non-linear behaviors with temperature due to contributions from the encapsulation materials and other factors.  Therefore, the thermal behavior of encapsulated PCMs masks the thermal properties of the actual PCM and its phase change properties. Furthermore, the measurement by an HFM is fundamentally a relative measurement being heavily correlated with the calibration of internal heat flux transducers using a reference material.  This work aims to establish the groundwork needed to develop a reference material for validating the specific heat capacity values, as well as thermal conductivity of macro-encapsulated PCMs. The research focus is to ultimately provide a new measurement service by developing a PCM reference material with reliable thermal properties and a well-defined phase-temperature relationship.

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 and thus requires that such institutions 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 Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems Group at NIST.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

  • Simulating thermal distributions on empty and PCM filled – encapsulation panels between heating and cooling sources.
  • Determining thermal conductivity and heat capacity values of the PCM encapsulation panels using computational methods.
  • Analyzing PCM melting and solidification process in the encapsulations using computational methods.
  • Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.
  • Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been archived.

What You Should Know

  • This position is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States.

 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 this full-time position is $65,000 - $98,000 annually.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

  • A minimum master’s degree in computer science, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field.

What We Would Like You to Have

  • A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience is preferred.
  • Familiarity with PCM and thermal simulations is a big plus.
  • Ability to work with a commercial finite element software (experience with COMSOL is preferred but not required).
  • Ability to develop an analytical model needed to analyze data.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.

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 March 11, 2026.
 
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