NIST works with industry and science to advance innovation and improve quality of life. We're looking for a Research Chemist to join our team! This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.

Duties

The major duties of this position focus on developing measurement platforms that can quantify the chemical reactions that occur in the polymeric underfill and compression molding resins that are used as semiconductor packaging applications. These packaging resins are dispensed as monomeric liquids or soft pastes, but cross-link into a thermoset polymer when heated. The chemical conversion of these materials from a soft liquid to a rigid thermoset is accompanied by several important changes in the physical properties (volumetric shrinkage, residual stress generation, coefficient of thermal expansion, moisture transport properties) that affect their performance as packaging materials. Measurements that can correlate the degree of chemical conversion of the thermoset materials to their physical properties are critically needed to optimize semiconductor packaging materials. Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements will be developed to address these issues. Spectroscopic NMR pulse sequences will be developed to quantify the degree of chemical conversion. Pulse field gradient NMR and field cycling NMR will be developed to quantify the transport of water through the packaging materials. Magnetic resonance imaging will be developed to image the distribution of water inside the packaging materials. In this position the applicant will be working with others at NIST who are developing measurement platforms for packaging materials. These include quantifying the chemical cure kinetics, quantifying the degree of chemical conversion, quantifying residual stress development and cure shrinkage, mechanical properties, and moisture interactions with the packaging materials. This position is part of a broader NIST effort that is trying to develop metrologies in support of the CHIPs Act. Duties include developing instruments, conducting studies on model materials, writing of peer-reviewed publications, giving internal and external presentations, and generating fundamental knowledge that will be broadly shared across the semiconductor community.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment
• Bargaining Unit Position: No
• Transcripts are required.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: A. Degree: physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by course work in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. OR B.Combination of education and experience -- course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must also have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 (ZP-II at NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as experience in characterizing the cure mechanisms of cross-linking thermoset polymeric resins, polymer matrix composite materials, cure induced shrinkage of cross-linking thermoset polymeric resins, and the general methods to characterize the mechanical property of polymers is required. OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree as defined in the basic requirements. OR A combination of graduate education and specialized experience as defined in the additional requirements. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done. We will credit all qualifying volunteer experience in your application. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. Applicant Reconsideration

Education

This position has an education requirement. Transcripts must be submitted to validate that the education requirement has been met. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. However, an official copy will be required prior to a final offer of employment.

Education completed outside of the U.S. must be evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that it is comparable to education received in accredited institutions in the U.S. Click here to view a listing of accredited organizations from the Department of Education's website. A copy of the foreign education evaluation (containing the results with a course by course listing) is required with your application.

Contacts

• Address Materials Science and Engineering Division 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899 US
• Name: Amanda Reliford
• Phone: (202) 309-8886
• Email: [email protected]