"Postdoctoral Associate"

Postdoctoral Associate

Requisition Number: 70372

Location: Boulder, Colorado

City: Boulder

State: Colorado

Employment Type: Research Faculty

Schedule: Full-Time

Posting Close Date: 26-Mar-2026

Date Posted: 12-Mar-2026

Job Summary

The candidate will work in a team on implementing basic building blocks of scalable quantum information processing with mixed species trapped ions.

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 Ion Storage Group at NIST.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Work with a team made up of NIST permanent staff members, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students to:
• upgrade existing apparatus, plan and build new parts of the apparatus, implement and evaluate experiments, and disseminate results of experiments through publication in journals and presentations.

What We Can Offer

• The salary range for this full-time position is $74,000 - $108,000 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

• PhD degree in Physics or a similar field.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Experience in experimental design and execution of experimental work in an atomic physics laboratory.
• Good understanding of laser technology and nonlinear frequency conversion.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume or CV
2. 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 March 26, 2026.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.