Job Description
Senior Professional Research Assistant University of Colorado Boulder - 3.9 Boulder, CO Job Details Part-time $41,500 - $100,000 a year 1 day ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance Tuition reimbursement Paid time off Retirement plan Qualifications Laboratory experiment design Master's degree in physics Academic research projects Field studies Conference papers University research Engineering Design of experiments 11+ years Optics Engineering research Design engineering Prototype creation Machining equipment Physics Technical research projects Product design Participating in conferences Autodesk Inventor Senior level Master's degree in engineering Prototypes Communication skills
Full Job Description Requisition Number:
72475 Location:
Boulder, Colorado City Boulder State Colorado Employment Type:
Research Faculty Schedule:
Part-Time Posting Close Date:
22-Jun-2026 Date Posted:
08-Jun-2026 Job Summary The work will entail the design and implement femtosecond optical time-transfer experiments; conduct laboratory and field experiments and analyze results; present results at scientific conferences and in scientific journals. 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 wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration. 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 Fiber Sources and Applications Group at NIST. What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be The design and manufacturing of telescope transceivers to support free-space optical time transfer and optical communications to support scientific research. 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 1, 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 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. What We Can Offer The salary range for this 50% time position is $41,500 - $100,000 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 Master's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related field. What We Would Like You to Have >15 years of relevant experience. Familiarity with Autodesk Inventor and Familiarity Zeemax. Familiarity with stable optical cavities, fiber noise cancellation techniques, frequency combs and optical time transfer. Machining experience. Ability to develop prototype point-to-point telescopes with fast steering and tracking capability. Strong oral and written communication skills. Special Instructions To apply, please submit the following materials: Resume or CV 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 a reference. We will request the letter of recommendation immediately following your application. Review of applications will begin immediately and remain open until June 22, 2026. 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. Posting Contact Information Posting Contact Name:
Lisa Valencia Posting Contact Email:
