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PREP Graduate Research Assistant Position at NIST in the Precision Photonic Synthesis Group (688.70 Fiber Interconnects for Quantum Networks) (PREP0004245)

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. 

The Professional Research Experience Program (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. 

Research Location:

At NIST in the Precision Photonic Synthesis Group 

Summary of the Position:

This position involves the creation of fiber interconnects capable of supporting entanglement of spatially separated quantum information systems. This includes the design and implementation of new synchronization and path length stabilization schemes, working with novel fiber types such as multicore and hollow core fiber, and enabling the coexistence of classical and quantum payloads. The work is expected to lead to results that the incumbent will present at professional conferences and fully describe in peer-reviewed publications. This position involves teamwork within a diverse scientific community, excellent oral communication, and the generation of written publications. 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Phase stabilization of km-scale fiber paths with sub-femtosecond precision. 
  • Ultrastable laser source operation and maintenance. 
  • Characterization of the nonlinearities and wavelength-dependent phase shifts of novel fiber types. 
  • Presenting results at internal meetings, meetings with external stakeholders, and at technical conferences. 

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Applicants must be enrolled full-time at the University of Colorado Boulder master’s degree or doctoral degree program in physics, mathematics, engineering, or closely related program. 
  • Must currently possess a 3.0 GPA or higher. 
  • Must be a degree seeking student through CU Boulder. 
  • 1+ years of experience with optical systems. 
  • Strong oral and written communication skills. 

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in physics, optics, engineering, or a related field. 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Familiarity with ultrastable lasers, fiber optics, and phase metrology. 

Currently Funded:

  • Fall 2026 – Summer 2027 

Salary (contract pay format): 

Rates may increase beginning Fall 2026 

  • Pre-comps: $3,163 per month 
  • Post-comps: $3,330 per month 

Benefits:

  • Graduate Research Assistant contract pay based on pre-comps/post-comps rate. 
  • Tuition, fees, and insurance paid for by PREP during the academic year while in PREP. 

If interested, please send your resume/CV to Lisa Valencia at recruitprep@colorado.edu. The finalist will be required to submit their resume/CV and transcript. 

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 of 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.