Quantum Information Science Postdoctoral Research Associate

Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to employee success and we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Review more information at BNL | Benefits Program

The Co-Design Center for Quantum Advantage (C2QA) at BNL coordinates a team of leading experts from national laboratories, academic institutions, and industry partners, assembled to address challenges facing scalable quantum computing and provide breakthroughs to strengthen U.S. leadership in quantum information science and technology. The C2QA scientific mission is to deliver advances in materials science and modular architectures that enable scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing and quantum-limited sensing. The research program is organized around two large-scale focused efforts: achieving quantum advantage through coherence-driven materials design and realizing scalable, modular quantum systems. These efforts integrate vertical co-design, from materials to algorithms, and cross-platform co-design across superconducting, neutral atom, and diamond-based systems, guided by quantitative resource estimates targeting DOE-priority scientific applications.

Position Description

The Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage (C2QA) at BNL is seeking an exceptional Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct pioneering research on materials for superconducting qubits and diamond quantum sensors, leveraging state-of-the-art electron microscopy facilities at the Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department (CMPMS) and the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN). The successful candidate will conduct research at the forefront of electron microscopy to elucidate structure-property relationships in quantum materials and devices, including material origins of quantum decoherence and quantum noise. The successful candidate will perform structure characterization for quantum device applications, such as assessing the structure integrity of crystals and films, probing defects at surface and in the bulk, and mapping defect-induced strain distribution and spin configurations to understand materials’ static and dynamic behavior. Research will involve a broad range of advanced techniques, including atomic imaging of surfaces and bulk, nano-probe diffraction (4D-STEM), high-energy-resolution, and valence-level energy-loss spectroscopy, cryogenic microscopy, Lorentz microscopy and ultrafast electron microscopy under electromagnetic and microwave excitations.  This two-year position will be jointly supervised by Yimei Zhu (CMPMS) and Mingzhao Liu (CFN).   The successful candidate will closely collaborate with leading experimental and theoretical groups from materials synthesis and device performance measurements to structural modeling in C2QA.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

As a Postdoctoral Research Associate, Roles and Responsibilities:

• Conduct electron microscopy studies of superconducting qubits and diamond quantum sensors to understand structure-property relationships.
• Contribute to material/device fabrication to improve material properties, by identifying defects as source of decoherence.
• Participate in intra-team and inter-team collaboration in correlating materials analysis with quantum device performance.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Qualifications for this Research Associate position:

• Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics, Materials Science, or closely related fields is required within the last 5 years.
• Solid background in electron microscopy and structural characterization.
• Ability to work effectively within a diverse multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional team environment.
• Communicate effectively in writing and presentations and have a record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Committed to fostering an environment of safe scientific work practices.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Candidates well-matched to this position with: 

• Extensive hands-on experience in advanced electron microscopy, such as aberration-corrected atomic imaging, quantitative electron diffraction (e.g., 4D-STEM), monochromated electron energy-loss-spectroscopy, in-situ microscopy, cryogenic electron microscopy, and ultrafast electron microscopy, as well as strong expertise in associated data acquisition and analysis.
• Effectively collaborate in a team to tackle challenging scientific problems, particularly quantum information science
• Experience with superconducting materials studies

Other Information:

• While principally based at Brookhaven National Laboratory, candidates should be willing to travel to carry out experiments at various national and international facilities.
• Brookhaven Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. This is a multi-level role and the full salary range for this position is $75,000 - $81,000 / year. You will be placed at the level and salary commensurate with your experience.  Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.
• BNL policy requires that after obtaining a PhD, eligible candidates for research associate appointments may not exceed a combined total of 5 years of relevant work experience as a post-doc and/or in an R&D position, excluding time associated with family planning, military service, illness or other life-changing events.

Brookhaven National Laboratory requires all non-badged personnel including visitors to produce a REAL-ID or REAL-ID compliant documentation to access Brookhaven National Laboratory – view more information at www.bnl.gov/real-id.  This is due to nationwide identification requirements for federal site access as required by the federal REAL ID Act.  Those not in possession of a REAL ID-compliant document will not be permitted to access the site which includes access to the Laboratory for interviews. 

About Us

Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country, learn more at BNL | Opportunities for Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Guided by our core values of integrity, responsibility, innovation, respect, and teamwork, Brookhaven Science Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer-Vets/Disabled. We are committed to fostering a respectful and collaborative environment that fuels scientific discovery. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.  *VEVRAA Federal Contractor

BSA employees are subject to restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation at the time of hire for review by Brookhaven. The full text of the Order may be found at: https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0486.1-BOrder-a/@@images/file