Demo

Postdoctoral Researcher: Interferometric Micros...

AI Venture Studio
Gaithersburg, MD Full Time
POSTED ON 7/6/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 8/1/2026
PREP Research Associate: This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. 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.

Description

The Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks an enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher to advance novel interferometric optical microscopy techniques for single-particle, multiparameter characterization of nanoparticles at high-throughputs. The postdoc will work closely with a collaborative, multidisciplinary team of researchers to design, build, and model new optical microscopes to provide physical measurements (such as mass, size, concentration, composition) of nanoparticles, with a focus on gene delivery nanoparticles. These physical parameters are crucial to the development and optimization of gene delivery therapies. For additional details about this research, please visit our program website, https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/gene-delivery-particle-analysis-high-throughput-light-scattering-microscopy, or contact Aaron Goldfain (aaron.goldfain@nist.gov).

Key Responsibilities Will Include But Are Not Limited To

  • Designing, improving, and using custom-built, laser-based light scattering microscopes for quantitative nanoparticle characterization.
  • Building new optical models of gene delivery nanoparticles and interferometric microscopes.
  • Conducting experimental investigations to validate instrument performance and characterize nanoparticle physical characteristics and heterogeneity.
  • Collaborating with researchers to develop innovative algorithms for data analysis and interpretation.
  • Collaborating with researchers to evaluate the impact of particle heterogeneity on gene delivery efficacy.
  • Publishing research in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at scientific conferences.

Qualifications

  • A PhD in Physics, Optics, Biophysics, or a related field.
  • Completed PhD within the last 5 years.
  • Familiarity or experience with optical models of particle light scatter and/or optical instruments.
  • Familiarity or experience with optical imaging and/or microscopy.
  • Enthusiasm for learning new theoretical, computational, and experimental techniques.
  • Programming experience with Python, MATLAB, or similar.

Apply At: https://apply.interfolio.com/187833

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 for 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 the information you submit for the purpose stated.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Salary Range:
The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

Total Rewards: Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. The University is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors or demographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Pre-Employment Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations at Johns Hopkins University for disabilities, medical conditions (including medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), accessibility, or religious reasons, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.

Background Checks: After receiving a conditional offer, the successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check including education verification. When deciding whether a candidate’s conviction history is job-disqualifying, the University considers the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job being sought.

EEO is the Law: https://www.eeoc.gov/employees-job-applicants

Vaccine Requirements: Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine.

Exceptions to the seasonal flu vaccine or COVID-19 vaccine (for SOM) requirement(s) may be provided to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs or medical conditions that preclude them from receiving the vaccine. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional vaccine requirements may apply, depending upon your campus. Please contact the hiring department for more information.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those candidates who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.Visit AVS.org (opens in new window)

  • Job Seekers
    • Job Seekers Home
    • Find a Job
    • Job Alerts
    • Search Employers
    • Career Resources
    • Job Seekers Sign In
  • Employers
    • Employers Home
    • Your Jobs
    • Employers Sign In
  • Connect with AVS Career Center:
    • Facebook This will open in a new window
    • X This will open in a new window
    • LinkedIn This will open in a new window
    • Instagram This will open in a new window
    • YouTube This will open in a new window
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy

    © 2026 American Institute of Physics.. Powered by Madgex Job Board Technology

    Salary.com Estimation for Postdoctoral Researcher: Interferometric Micros... in Gaithersburg, MD
    $109,933 to $136,522
    If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
    Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

    What is the career path for a Postdoctoral Researcher: Interferometric Micros...?

    Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Postdoctoral Researcher: Interferometric Micros... career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
    Income Estimation: 
    $102,775 - $137,396
    Income Estimation: 
    $153,127 - $203,425
    Income Estimation: 
    $139,626 - $193,276
    Income Estimation: 
    $164,650 - $211,440
    Income Estimation: 
    $130,030 - $173,363
    Income Estimation: 
    $100,407 - $125,193
    Income Estimation: 
    $120,989 - $162,093
    Income Estimation: 
    $74,806 - $91,633
    Income Estimation: 
    $71,928 - $87,026
    Income Estimation: 
    $145,337 - $174,569
    Employees: Get a Salary Increase
    View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

    Job openings at AI Venture Studio

    • AI Venture Studio Rochester, MN
    • Job Summary Unearthly Materials Inc. is developing next-generation superconducting materials. We are expanding our R&D program to translate recent breakthr... more
    • 5 Days Ago


    Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Postdoctoral Researcher: Interferometric Micros... jobs in the Gaithersburg, MD area that may be a better fit.

    • DataAnnotation Washington, DC
    • We are looking for a chemistry professional to join our team to train AI models. You will measure the progress of these AI chatbots, evaluate their logic, ... more
    • 4 Days Ago

    • DataAnnotation Washington, DC
    • We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join our team to train AI models. You will measure the progress of these AI chatbots, evaluate their logic,... more
    • 1 Month Ago

    AI Assistant is available now!

    Feel free to start your new journey!