Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research at NIST on superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), focusing on materials, device design, cryogenics, and quantum optics applications.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a Ph.D. earned within the last 5 years; requires contacting a NIST research adviser prior to application.
Description
This fellowship opportunity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) supports postdoctoral research on superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). These detectors have applications ranging from materials characterization to fundamental quantum mechanics experiments. The current state-of-the-art detectors are based on tungsten silicide and operate at temperatures of 1 K or below. NIST is interested in advancing this technology by exploring new materials that can operate at higher temperatures and developing novel refrigeration methods.
Research areas include:
- Device design and fabrication of SNSPDs
- Cryogenic systems and refrigeration schemes
- Testing and implementation in ultrafast and quantum optics experiments
- Development of detector arrays for imaging applications
- Waveguide-based devices for on-chip quantum information processing
- Exploration of the underlying physics of superconductors used in SNSPDs
Applicants will have access to NIST’s advanced cleanroom facilities, ultrafast lasers, high-speed electronics, and extensive cryogenics infrastructure.
Due Dates
Applications are accepted four times per year with deadlines at:
- February 1, 2025
- May 1, 2025
- August 1, 2025
- November 1, 2025
If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Base stipend: $82,764 per year
- Travel allowance: $3,000 per year
- Typical appointment length: 2 years
Additional benefits include health insurance and relocation assistance if applicable.
Eligibility
- Citizenship: U.S. citizens only
- Education: Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent research doctorate completed before starting tenure
- Postdoctoral applicants must have earned their doctorate within the last 5 years as of the application deadline
- Applicants must not have current or recent prior affiliation with NIST that would disqualify eligibility (e.g., current employment or previous NRC fellowship at NIST)
- Applicants must contact a NIST research adviser listed in the opportunity before applying
Application Process
- Identify Research Opportunity: Review the NIST SNSPD research opportunity and contact one of the listed research advisers to discuss your proposed project and funding availability.
- Prepare Application Materials:
- Profile information including education history and transcripts (postdocs only)
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) detailing problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance
- Previous and current research description (max 4 pages)
- List of publications and presentations (max 2 pages)
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser for postdocs)
- Submit Application: Apply online through the NRC Research Associateship Programs portal before the deadline.
- Review: Applications are reviewed by expert panels; applicants scoring 70+ are recommended for awards.
- Notification: Applicants are notified of review results and funding decisions typically 6-8 weeks after review.
Additional Information
- Awards are onsite only at NIST facilities in Boulder, CO.
- Health insurance is required and partially subsidized.
- Relocation assistance is available for those moving more than 50 miles.
- Applicants can apply to up to three different agencies but only one application per agency per cycle.
- Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by letter writers via the online system by the deadline.
- Applicants are responsible for ensuring all materials are complete and submitted on time.
External Links
Contact Information
Applicants are encouraged to contact the research advisers to discuss their research interests before applying. For general application questions, contact the NRC RAP office.