Ultraviolet Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary
The Physics NIST-PREP Department invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate or Research Associate! This position focuses on developing and applying ultrafast extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and ultraviolet (UV) based metrology to understand and untangle the mechanisms involved in thermal transport at the nanoscale. Film-level and patterned arrays will be measured using a pump-probe method to measure the time dependence of heat flow allowing an estimation of the local thermal conductivity. Geometric, material and nonequilibrium effects on thermal transport will be investigated. These measurements will be correlated with theory and models being developed by collaborators. This position requires knowledge and skills in ultrafast optics and all associated alignment procedures, data analysis, and instrument/optics design as well as semiconductors and wide-bandgap systems.
This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields. Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration's scientific research.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Who We Are
PREP is a special partnership between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder. PREP provides research opportunities to CU undergraduate and graduate students, as well as researchers with a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in NIST labs to gain research experience alongside NIST scientists.
The particular group that needs a researcher is the Spin Electronics Group at NIST.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Designing, building, maintaining, and applying pulsed lasers to measure the dynamic change in reflectivity or diffraction of thin films and patterned nanostructures. This can include EUV diffraction and transient grating with UV systems.
• Analyzing data to relate the data to the thermal response.
• Working with collaborators to design experiments and sample systems.
• Presenting results at internal and external meetings.
• Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been backed up and archived.

What You Should Know
This position requires the successful completion of an NAIS agreement and federal security clearance as mandated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Employment is contingent upon approval of these requirements as determined by NIST.

• Anticipated start date is October 22, 2026.
• Anticipated end date is September 30, 2027.

Privacy Act Statement
Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)
Purpose: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.
PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate the administrative functions of the PREP Program.
Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1: NIST Associates.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated. By applying to a CHIPS-funded PREP opportunity, you also acknowledge that participation in the project requires signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to beginning any work.
What We Can Offer

• The salary range for the full-time Postdoctoral Associate position is $74,000 - $108,000 annually.
• The salary range for the full-time Research Associate position is $78,000 - $135,000 annually.

Benefits
At the University of Colorado Boulder , we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.
Be Statements
Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.
What We Require

• Postdoctoral Associate: A PhD degree or higher in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering or a related field with 0 - 4 years of post-doctoral degree experience.
• Research Associate: A PhD degree or higher in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering or a related field with 5+ years of post-doctoral degree experience.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Experience with the design and implementation of optical system.
• Experience with design, operation and maintenance of high-harmonic generation extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light sources.
• Experience with pump-probe and ultrafast optical system design.
• Experience with data analysis and modeling light-matter interactions.
• Experience developing novel data acquisition and instrument control platforms to acquire data.
• Ability to develop tools needed to analyze large datasets using Python, MATLAB, or similar programming environments.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume or CV
2. Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.
During the application process, you will need to enter contact information for one reference. We will request the letter of recommendation immediately following your application.
Please apply by July 31st, 2026 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.