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 on spin-polarized currents in magnetic materials to advance nanoscale oscillators for microwave electronics and magnetic memory applications.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a Ph.D. earned within the last 5 years; research conducted onsite at NIST Boulder, CO; requires contacting Research Adviser prior to application.
Description
This fellowship opportunity under the NRC Research Associateship Programs focuses on fundamental and applied research in spin electronics at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Physical Measurement Laboratory, Quantum Electromagnetics Division, located in Boulder, Colorado.
The research aims to deepen understanding of the interaction between spin-polarized currents and magnetic materials, with the goal of improving nanoscale devices for microwave electronics and magnetic random-access memory (MRAM). Key research areas include:
- Enhancing output power of nanoscale oscillators via materials engineering and tunnel junction integration.
- Investigating synchronization phenomena among arrays of nanoscale oscillators.
- Characterizing thermal effects on oscillator linewidths and current-induced switching in patterned magnetic elements.
- Studying interactions between magnetic nanostructures and alternating current (AC) fields and currents.
- Exploring current-induced switching mechanisms for MRAM applications.
- Understanding spin-orbit interactions and mechanisms of spin-current generation.
This project leverages recent advances in spin transfer effects, where electron spin angular momentum transfer enables control of magnetization states without applied magnetic fields, enabling novel device functionalities such as hysteretic switching and coherent microwave dynamics driven by DC currents.
Due Dates
- February 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- May 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- August 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
- November 1, 2025 (5 PM ET)
Note: 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 annually
- Typical appointment duration: 2 years
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to U.S. citizens only.
- Education: Applicants must have earned a Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent research doctorate before beginning tenure.
- Experience: Postdoctoral applicants must have held their doctorate for less than five years as of the application deadline.
- Affiliation: Applicants with current or recent prior affiliation with NIST or related postdoctoral fellowships may be ineligible.
- Research must be conducted onsite at NIST Boulder, CO.
- Applicants must contact the designated Research Adviser prior to applying.
Application Process
Steps to Apply
- Review eligibility criteria on the NRC RAP For Applicants page.
- Identify the Spin Electronics research opportunity at NIST (Opportunity Number: 50.68.72.B6412).
- Contact the Research Adviser, William H. Rippard (rippard@boulder.nist.gov), to discuss research plans and funding availability.
- Prepare application materials including:
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) detailing problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance.
- Curriculum vitae, transcripts (for postdocs), and list of publications.
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser for postdocs).
- Submit application via the NRC RAP online system before the deadline.
- Monitor application status and ensure letters of recommendation are submitted on time.
Application Materials
- Profile information (contact, education, employment, honors)
- Transcripts (required for postdoctoral applicants)
- Research proposal aligned with the Spin Electronics project scope
- Letters of recommendation uploaded by referees via the online system
Review Process
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels in relevant scientific disciplines.
- The Research Adviser and NIST program representatives provide evaluations.
- Applicants scoring 70+ out of 100 are recommended for awards, subject to funding availability.
- Feedback is provided approximately one week after review finalization.
Additional Information
- Health insurance enrollment is required for the duration of the appointment.
- Relocation assistance is available for awardees moving more than 50 miles.
- Annual travel allowance supports conference attendance and research-related travel.
- Applicants with prior NRC Research Associateships must have a two-year gap before reapplying.
- The program encourages diversity and does not discriminate based on race, gender, or other protected categories.
External Links
Contact Information
| Contact Person | Email | Phone | Affiliation |
|---|
| William H. Rippard | rippard@boulder.nist.gov | 303-497-3882 | NIST, Physical Measurement Laboratory |