Research Associate Thin Films
AI research and deployment company building AI scientists and autonomous laboratories for physical-science discovery.
About Periodic Labs
Periodic Labs develops specialized AI models and high-throughput autonomous labs that run and analyze physical experiments, initially for materials discovery including superconductors, magnets, and semiconductor applications.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will run thin-film deposition and nanofabrication processes, prepare substrates, manage process flows, and maintain detailed experimental records. You will characterize films, monitor in-situ metrology, interpret results with AI and materials teams, troubleshoot recipes, escalate anomalies, and preserve knowledge by documenting failures and fixes.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing or recently completed a PhD or advanced graduate degree in materials science, physics, chemistry, or a related field
- Hands-on thin-film deposition experience, including sputtering, evaporation, PLD, ALD, CVD, MBE, or related techniques
- Knowledge of target conditioning, chamber qualification, substrate preparation, and recipe troubleshooting
- Thin-film characterization experience with XRD, ellipsometry, and SEM
- Rigorous documentation
- Ability to learn new equipment and workflows quickly
- Ability to operate independently in shared research facilities
Responsibilities
- Execute thin-film deposition and related nanofabrication processes
- Prepare substrates, manage process flows, and maintain experimental records
- Perform thin-film characterization using XRD/XRR, ellipsometry, profilometry, SEM/EDX, and electrical measurements
- Monitor in-situ metrology during deposition
- Collaborate on deposition parameter selection and interpret characterization results
- Troubleshoot process issues, iterate recipes under guidance, escalate anomalies, and document failures and fixes
Benefits
- Equity