Demo

Advanced Electron Microscopy Research Scientist

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Gaithersburg, MD Full Time
POSTED ON 9/25/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 10/24/2026
Summary

Seeking an Advanced Electron Microscopy Research Scientist whose major duties would include developing and applying advanced environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) methods to investigate dynamic processes in semiconductor, quantum, catalytic, and energy-related materials under realistic operating conditions. This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.

Duties

Duties include: Designing and implementing in-situ and operando experiments using gas and liquid environmental cells. Performing multimodal measurements combining imaging, diffraction, and analytical spectroscopy Developing quantitative analysis methods for large multidimensional datasets. Correlating structural, chemical, and functional changes at material interfaces. Supporting the development of new measurement capabilities and experimental protocols. Collaborating with internal and external research partners, and disseminating results through peer-reviewed publications and presentations. Disseminating results through peer reviewed publications and presentations.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) In addition to the basic requirements, you must also meet one of the following requirements: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-9 (ZP-II at NIST). Specialized experience is defined as: 1) Experience operating transmission electron microscopy (TEM) instrumentation, 2) Experience preparing specimens and acquiring and interpreting TEM data, 3) Experience with semiconductor and quantum materials characterization using TEM OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree as defined in the basic requirements OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as defined in the additional requirements. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration

Salary.com Estimation for Advanced Electron Microscopy Research Scientist in Gaithersburg, MD
$105,301 to $122,116
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 Advanced Electron Microscopy Research Scientist?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Advanced Electron Microscopy Research Scientist career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
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
Income Estimation: 
$87,529 - $100,509
Income Estimation: 
$90,372 - $103,622
Income Estimation: 
$61,825 - $80,560
Income Estimation: 
$90,032 - $105,965
Income Estimation: 
$85,996 - $102,718
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 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Boulder, CO
  • Summary NIST is seeking a Maintenance Mechanic to help maintain a safe, functional, and reliable research campus. This position supports year-round operati... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Gaithersburg, MD
  • Summary NIST is seeking a Nanomaterial Research Chemist who regularly plans and executes research on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to resolve com... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Gaithersburg, MD
  • Summary The Engineering Laboratory (EL) promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology... more
  • 6 Days Ago

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Boulder, CO
  • Summary NIST is seeking a Location-Based Services Lead to direct advanced research and development involving indoor Location-Based Services (LBS) and Posit... more
  • 6 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Advanced Electron Microscopy Research Scientist jobs in the Gaithersburg, MD area that may be a better fit.

  • Parallax Advanced Research Washington, DC
  • This position focuses on designing, developing, experimenting with, and applying advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-agent technologies to address... more
  • 12 Days Ago

  • Thermo Fisher Scientific Washington, DC
  • Work Schedule Standard (Mon-Fri) Environmental Conditions Able to lift 40 lbs. without assistance Job Description When you’re part of the team at Thermo Fi... more
  • 1 Month Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!