Nanomechanics, Nanomaterials, Nanofabrication, Nanooptics, and Surface Chemistry
This project designs and builds nanosensors using advanced materials and surface chemistry for detecting chemicals/biological agents and processing radio signals.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: May 1, 2025 (Next deadline)
Funding Amounts: Stipend approximately $99,200 per year plus $3,000 travel allowance; relocation assistance available for eligible awardees.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship to conduct advanced research in nanomechanics, nanomaterials, nanofabrication, nanooptics, and surface chemistry at the Naval Research Laboratory.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents with a doctoral degree; requires contacting a Research Adviser prior to application; health insurance provided.
Description
This fellowship opportunity at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) focuses on cutting-edge research in nanomechanical resonators and resonator arrays, leveraging their extremely small mass and high surface-to-volume ratio for mass sensing applications. The research involves designing, fabricating, and characterizing novel nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS) using advanced thin-film materials such as graphene, nanocrystalline diamond, single crystal diamond, silicon, and polysilicon films. These systems are applied for chemical and biological agent sensing as well as radio frequency (RF) signal processing.
Innovative approaches include the fabrication of two-dimensional photonic crystals in diamond, single crystal diamond nanoresonators, and studies of Anderson localization in coupled resonator arrays (photonic arrays). Surface science techniques such as scanning Auger spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray analysis are employed to understand fundamental loss mechanisms in MEMS and NEMS devices.
A key research component is the surface functionalization of nanomechanical resonators with selective vapor adsorptive functional groups, patterned specifically on the nanoresonator to optimize sensitivity and minimize detection limits. This is achieved using a generic monolayer functionalization scheme based on an ultraviolet-mediated reaction between terminal alkenes and hydrogen-terminated surfaces.
The NRL provides access to state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to nanoscale science and technology, equipped with a wide range of processing and surface science analysis equipment.
