Theory and Simulation of Nanoscale Systems and Devices
This grant supports research using theory and simulation to study nanoscale systems and devices for applications like water desalination and DNA sequencing.
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: Stipend approximately $82,764 per year plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research using theory and simulation to study nanoscale systems and devices with applications including water desalination and DNA sequencing.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens holding a doctoral degree; research conducted at NIST Boulder, CO; applicants must contact a Research Adviser prior to applying.
Description
This fellowship opportunity is offered by the NRC Research Associateship Programs in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at their Boulder, Colorado campus. The research is conducted within the Thermodynamics Research Center group, which focuses on interdisciplinary studies at the intersection of nanomechanics, mesoscale physics, and chemistry. The primary research areas include charge and mass transport, as well as interfacial phenomena in condensed-matter systems at the nanoscale, encompassing both liquid and solid states.
The program encourages innovative research proposals in topics such as:
- Aqueous ion transport through subnanoscale pores in two-dimensional materials (e.g., boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, graphene, MXenes) for molecular separations and water desalination.
- Physics of solid-state and hybrid solid-state-biomolecular devices for DNA and protein sequencing.
- Structural and thermodynamic properties of static and kinetic friction in two-dimensional and lamellar materials.
- Ionic liquids confined at the nanoscale for supercapacitor energy storage applications.
The research employs advanced theoretical and computational methods including coordination chemistry, multi-barrier transition state theory, large-scale molecular dynamics simulations, and density functional theory calculations. Collaboration with experimental scientists is integral to the research approach.
Selected publications from the group highlight advances in ion transport, mechanosensitive ion channels, DNA sequencing sensors, and nanoscale friction phenomena.
