Rheo-Raman Microscopy for Soft Matter
This grant seeks to use and improve a new microscope that combines rheology, Raman spectroscopy, and optics to study the behavior of soft materials.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Base stipend approximately $82,764/year with $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research using a novel rheo-Raman microscope integrating rheology, Raman spectroscopy, and optical microscopy to study soft materials.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens holding a doctoral degree within the last 5 years; requires contacting a Research Adviser prior to application; NIST participates in February and August review cycles only.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports postdoctoral researchers to utilize and advance a novel rheo-Raman microscope developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The instrument uniquely integrates a Raman spectrometer, rotational rheometer, and optical microscope, enabling simultaneous multi-modal measurements. This allows researchers to correlate macroscopic stress, chemical changes, and conformational kinetics in a single experiment.
The research focus is on soft matter materials such as gels, polymers, composites, and emulsions. The goal is to measure kinetic processes that previously required separate experiments. There is also an interest in incorporating additional measurement modalities including polarization control, UV curing, and optical light scattering.
This opportunity is part of the NRC Research Associateship Programs, which provide prestigious postdoctoral fellowships at federal laboratories. The fellowship offers a comprehensive research experience with mentorship, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and professional development.
