Associate Research Scientist, Mechanical Engineering

Role details

Opening for an Associate Research Scientist position with Professor P. James Schuck at the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science at Columbia University. The Schuck Lab is a multidisciplinary research group whose aim is to characterize, understand and control light-matter interactions, with a focus on sensing, engineering and exploiting novel quantum and optoelectronic properties emerging from nanostructures and interfaces.

The successful candidate will pursue the following research: • developing an infrared force microscopy (IFM) technique that can measure cellular-scale forces buried under surfaces with minimal perturbation, nanoscale resolution, and across the wide variety and broad dynamic range of forces relevant to biological and technological systems • leverage our recent demonstration of the force sensing capabilities of our advanced photon-avalanching nanoparticle probes capable of probing mid-range nN forces over a dynamic range that spans over 4 orders of magnitude (500 pN to 10 µN) at the single-particle level • continue investigation of the fundamental force-sensitive properties of these nanoprobes and on constructing an automated infrared force microscope • benchmark against state-of-the-art measurement techniques, and demonstrating IFM on frontier systems • PhD in Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline • At least four years postdoctoral research experience • Experience writing research proposals highly desired