Posting Title

Postdoctoral Researcher – Ultra-wide Bandgap Power Electronic Device Fabrication

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Postdoc (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

A postdoc position is available in the Materials, Chemical, and Computational Sciences Directorate in the area of ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) power electronic device fabrication. The position will involve the fabrication of high breakdown voltage and high forward current power diodes and transistors based on gallium oxide (Ga2O3), aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN), and other UWBG semiconductors. Emphasis will be placed on (1) TCAD design of device structures capable of high breakdown voltages and high forward currents, and on (2) the fabrication of these devices using power device processing and fabrication methods in a clean room. The position will focus on reducing interface defects and improving breakdown voltage in Ga2O3 power diodes and may also support a basic science project that involves fabrication and characterization of horizontal and vertical AlGaN devices. The job duties include device design, epitaxial material synthesis, device fabrication, and device characterization. The postdoc position is a 3-year, renewed after each year of performance.

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Basic Qualifications

Must be a recent PhD graduate within the last three years.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

Candidates should have at least several of the following:

• Demonstrated prior hands-on experience in fabrication, characterization, and design of semiconductor devices in a cleanroom environment
• Track record in wide band gap semiconductor applications such as power electronics, light emitting diodes, RF transistors, photodetectors, etc

Note: Please include a cover letter with your application, explaining how you meet the additional Required Qualifications listed above, and which of the Preferred Qualifications listed below you have. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply, even if they don't meet 100% of the position requirements. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the credentials, skills, and ambition to succeed at NLR to apply for this role.

Preferred Qualifications

Any of the additional prior experiences would be considered a plus:

• Prior experience using physics-based software packages (such as TCAD) to design semiconductor devices.

• Experience with epitaxial growth of ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors, such as molecular beam epitaxy or metal-organic chemical vapor deposition.

• Experience with gallium oxide or aluminum gallium nitride materials and power devices, and their dielectric passivation and electric field management.

• Awareness of semiconductor device physics such as figures of merit, defects and dopants, chemical compatibility, band offsets.

• In-depth knowledge on one or several materials characterization methods, such as diffraction, spectroscopy, microscopy, material property measurements.

• Prior examples of stewardship (installation, maintenance, repair, etc) of complex laboratory equipment, including physical vapor deposition systems.

• Active computer skills in programing (e.g. LabView, C/Igor Pro, Python, Matlab, etc.), statistical data analysis, and/or software development.

• Strong self-motivation, multitasking capability, time-management skills, and track record in scientific communication, Mentorship experience with undergraduate or graduate students.

• Prior experience (e.g., intern) in an industrial or national laboratory R&D setting.

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Postdoctoral Researcher / Annual Salary Range: $76,600 - $126,400

NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability insurance*; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; and paid holidays. NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NLR you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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