Piezo MEMS Materials Scientist

For more information: http://www.npl.co.uk/careers/current-vacancies/piezo-mems-materials-physicist-mat-2013-04

Overview

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is one of the UK's leading science facilities and research centres. It is a world-leading centre of excellence in developing and applying the most accurate standards, science and technology available. NPL occupies a unique position as the UK's National Measurement Institute and sits at the intersection between scientific discovery and real world application. Its expertise and original research have underpinned quality of life, innovation and competitiveness for UK citizens and business for more than a century. The Functional Materials research group at NPL works with industry and academia to develop world-leading measurement and modelling capability for a range of functional materials, including: ferroelectric, piezoelectric, magnetic, multiferroic, thermoelectric and electrocaloric. The capabilities developed over the past 5-10 years include traceable measurement of dielectric properties at mm to nm length scales, MEMS-scale tools for nanoscale piezoelectric characterisation, routes to traceable Piezoresponse Force Microscopy, and a range of metrologies capable of assessing the magnetoelectric coupling factor in composite 'multiferroics'. NPL is based in a unique research environment which is located in pleasant surroundings on the edge of Bushy Park in south-west London. We have a host of onsite facilities including a subsidised creche, restaurant, and a sports and social club. NPL Management Limited is committed to supporting their people to develop both personally and professionally and is committed to equal opportunities.

Requirements

NPL is looking for an experienced MEMS design engineer to join the Functional Materials Group. The ideal candidate will have a Masters or PhD with skills in MEMS design and testing. Typical MEMS applications developed by the group include electrostatic actuators, and magnetoelectric heterostructures devices (using piezoelectric and magnetic thin films) for magnetic field sensing. Experience in mask design and working with MEMS foundries to produce working devices is essential, along with bench level electrical and physical characterisation skills. It is essential to have mask design experience using Coventor/Intellisense/Ledit. It is highly desirable to have Component and system level modelling experience using Coventor/Intellisense. It is highly desirable to have experience of IV characteristics, capacitance measurements for Electrical characterisation. It would be nice to have experience in FE modelling using Comsol/Ansys. It would be nice to have experience in Optical characterisation using Laser Doppler vibrometry, Interferometry. It would be nice to have experience in Functional materials characterisation using Ferroelectric PE loop measurements, Magnetic MH loop measurements.

Responsibilities

The role is for a Research Scientist, who would be expected to work well in a strong collaborative research team, in helping to develop and ultimately lead our national laboratory remit of providing the community with accurate and reliable measurement capabilities, for these emerging advanced materials. Our 18-strong research group publish work in peer review journals and disseminate widely to industry within the UK, Europe and the wider world

Application

Please submit your application with a covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements of the role, containing your current CV and two examples of recent publications relevant to this role. This role is for a fixed term, initially for a period of two years.