PREP Research Associate
This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (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.
Research Title:
Advanced Low-Noise Frequency Synthesis and Phase Noise Metrology
The work will entail:
The primary objective of this project is two-fold: first, to innovate low-phase and amplitude noise frequency synthesis
techniques spanning from radio frequencies to the optical regime; and second, to develop advanced analog and digital
measurement systems for precise phase and time characterization. This capability is vital to the NIST mission, enabling the
creation of sophisticated instrumentation with significantly lower noise floors and higher throughput—essential
requirements for characterizing next-generation atomic clocks and ultra-low-noise oscillators.
To achieve these rigorous performance standards, the work requires a synergistic approach that bridges the analog and digital
domains. The research will focus on integrating high-performance analog front-ends—critical for signal purity—with modern
FPGA-based digital signal processing. By leveraging the low-noise characteristics of precision analog design alongside the
flexibility of digital analysis, this project aims to create robust measurement architectures that outperform traditional singledomain
solutions.
Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
Design and construct low phase frequency synthesizers and oscillators
Amplitude and phase noise metrology
PCB layout and design of measurement system circuits
Develop FPGA based measurement system firmware
Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders
Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been archived or otherwise transmitted to the larger
organization
U.S. Citizen Preferred
Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree in a STEM discipline
High level skill in RF/microwave signal analysis and system design
Experience in phase locked loops
Proficiency in FPGA with Xilinx ZynQ
Proficiency in Altium Designer
Familiarity with phase noise metrology is advantageous
Ability to code with, or learn to code with: MATLAB, LabView, and Python is required
Please upload the following with your application:
·CV/Resume
*Please limit C.V to 3 pages only and ONLY include a valid email address for your contact info. Your resume will not be considered if the following information is included on your CV/resume.
·Self portraits
·Phone number
·Home address/Country
·Citizenship status
·Languages spoken
·Sex/Gender
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
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.
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/
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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 characteristic. 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 that are irrelevant to the program involved.
Pre-Employment Information
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Background Checks
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check including education verification.
EEO is the Law:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22 088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. 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. 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 employees 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.
