Research Scholar Position Available In Wake, North Carolina

Research Scholar Posting Details
Posting Information Posting Number

PG194089EP

Internal Recruitment No
Working Title Research Scholar
Anticipated Hiring Range Commensurate based on education and experience
Work Schedule 40 Hrs/week
Job Location Raleigh, NC
Department Electrical and Computer Engineering
About the Department North Carolina State University has a foundational legacy of disruptive innovation in wide-bandgap materials, optoelectronic devices, and large-scale photonic integrated circuits. We are establishing advanced research capabilities to build radically different photonic and optoelectronic systems operating in the ultra-violet to visible to near-IR spectral regime based on integrating wide-bandgap semiconductors (primarily III-Nitride materials) and III-V compound materials. These advances will enable radical advances in various fields, including sensors, imaging, visible-light/IR communications, computational accelerators, AI infrastructure, chip-scale atomic systems (including optical clocks), quantum photonics, and quantum communications. The core photonics and optoelectronics effort at NCSU has over 100 cumulative years of leadership experience in advancing state-of-the-art solutions in III-nitride materials and devices, optoelectronics/photonics, and photonic integrated circuits. We have world-leading capabilities and research efforts in the areas of crystal growth, materials integration, device processing, and device/system design. We are now seeking to enhance and grow this effort in the areas of integrated photonic devices. Essential Job Duties Photonic links are well-established for handling high data bandwidths and diverse signal types. However, their integration within microsystems remains limited due to planar optical routing constraints. The candidate will help lead advancements in unprecedented link efficiency and density performance. The focus will be on the use of novel fabrication techniques to create advanced photonic chips. The program will enable new microsystem architectures for future applications such as interconnect communications, AI infrastructure, optical phased arrays, quantum sensing, etc. As a research scholar, you will be at the forefront of our efforts to develop key enabling integrated photonic technologies to make this a reality. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of engineers, researchers, and faculty during full development cycles from conceptual device design to running application demonstrations.

Key Responsibilities:

Fabrication of various chip-scale photonic devices (e.g., Stepper, contact, and E-beam lithography, wet etching, RIE, ICP-RIE, wafer-bonding, PECVD, metal sputter/evaporation, ALD, lapping/polishing, dicing, etc.).
Utilize SEM, AFM, ellipsometry, and image processing tools for nanofabrication characterization.
Documenting all technical work and reporting to team leads.
Perform measurements of photonic integrated circuits and be able to automate fiber alignment systems with custom scripts (e.g., Python).
Exhibit strong judgment and proactive decision-making to resolve key issues and ensure project and product deadlines are met.
Plan and conduct experiments efficiently, analyze metrology results, and generate reports to inform design and process decisions.
Mentor Ph.D., Master, and Undergraduate student researchers.
Prepare manuscripts for publication in high-impact journals and peer-reviewed academic conferences. Join us to be part of a team that shapes the future of photonic interconnects! You Belong Here

• NC State University offers a multitude of career prospects that align with the university’s Employee Value Proposition.

NC State University has prepared a Candidate Guide which contains valuable information on our childcare partnerships, tuition waiver program, relocation services, wellness and recreation memberships, employer subsidized health coverage, and much more. Discover the possibilities at NC State University and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for your professional and personal growth. Other Responsibilities Qualifications Minimum Education and Experience PhD in electrical engineering, photonics, physics, or any closely related engineering field. Other Required Qualifications Proven hands-on experience in micro/nanofabrication within an academic or industrial cleanroom setting.
Experience with photolithography, contact lithography, e-beam lithography, ICP-RIE, PECVD, ALD, SEM, AFM, wafer-bonding, RTA.
Mask layout (GDSFactory, Luceda, L-Edit, Synopsys OptoDesigner, etc.).
Strong organizational and planning abilities.
Detail-oriented, capable of following standard procedures, and able to work both independently and collaboratively with the current team and others.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. Our group values effective collaboration. Preferred Qualifications Experience with simulations of active/passive photonic devices such as waveguides, couplers, meta-lenses constructed of various materials. Be able to conduct performance/tolerance trade-offs for manufacturability and high-temperature environments to meet program goals. (e.g., Lumerical, Zemax).
Inverse or AI/ML-aided photonic design experience.
Experience re-iterating the design/fabrication/characterization life cycle.
Laboratory and measurement automation (e.g. Python)
Experience with statistical analysis for quality control (QC) and process optimization.
Expertise in process development and troubleshooting, proficiency with device layout software, computer programming skills, and data analysis capabilities. Required License(s) or Certification(s) N/A Valid NC Driver’s License required No
Commercial Driver’s License required No
Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions Job Open Date 05/06/2025
Anticipated Close Date Open Until Filled
Special Instructions to Applicants Position Details Position Number 00111443
Position Type

EPS/SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week) 1.00
Appointment 12 Month Recurring
Mandatory Designation

• Adverse Weather Non Mandatory
• Adverse Weather
  Mandatory Designation
• Emergency Events Non Mandatory
• Emergency Event
  Department ID 140401
• Electrical & Computer Engineering
  EEO