Job Details

Research Associate

Position Number: 6577895
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Science - Physics

Research Associate

Requisition Number: 67257
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 26-Sep-2025
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The associate will design and execute new experiments to enhance X-Ray computed tomopgraphy (XCT) measurements of advanced semiconductor packages in support of the CHIPS effort. The associate will perform XCT measurements under various external stimuli (electrical, mechanical, thermal) to reveal defects. The associate will work with internal collaborators on manual and automated image processing, segmentation and shape analysis. In addition, the associate will deploy Causal Green's functions to model thermal transport in gate all around transistors. The associate will establish new software routines to improve adoption of Causal Green's functions in multiscale/multiphysics modeling. The associate will also prove provide mentorship to younger project members. They will obtain high-quality data and prepare quarterly progress reports, manuscripts, presentations, and other outputs in a timely and professional manner.
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 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 Nanoscale Reliability Group under the Applied Chemicals & Materials Division at NIST.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Operation of X-Ray computed tomography (XCT) instruments.
Preparation of advanced packaging samples.
Processing of XCT images to enhance segmentation and subsequent workflows.
Translation of NIST Green's function software from Fortran to more accessible programming languages (e.g. C++, Python).
Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders.
Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been 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 this full-time position is $74,000 - $130,000 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

Doctoral degree in Engineering, Physics, Material Science or a related field.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume or CV
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 September 26, 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.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Research-Associate/67257