Career Center

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Collaboration Core has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist/Engineer 4.

This position supports the Washington Clean Energy Testbeds (WCET), which provides academic and industrial user access to advanced characterization, fabrication, processing, and computing tools.

Research undertaken at WCET is focused on the development of transitional energy devices, algorithms and other technologies.  The equipment, analytical instrumentation, and computing capabilities are designed to meet the flexible needs of a multidisciplinary user base.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Research Scientist/Engineer is responsible for instrument maintenance, demonstration, training and consulting, and sample evaluation using a variety of analysis techniques.  The primary emphasis of duties will be on device design and fabrication, functionalized ink formulation and multi-type printing instrumentation including, but not limited to, roll-to-roll manufacturing, 3D direct-write printing, screen and inkjet printing, as well as material characterization such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and precision profilometry. Secondary emphasis of work will be on lab and instrument maintenance and user training and support. As a senior member of the WCET staff, this person will be expected to manage multiple, significant projects – including detailed planning, scheduling, and coordinating of activities with lab management and junior staff.  This position will interface directly with customers and their management regarding their work.  This position will be responsible for the management of junior staff participating in fabrication activities in all WCET labs and is expected to provide input to WCET management on lab staffing, delegation of project tasks and planning of lab expansion.
Specifically, the person in this role will execute the following duties:

Supervisory Activities
•Serve as project manager for fabrication activities. Evaluate proposed or ongoing projects; interfaces with client/customer project managers and UW research/engineering management for existing or proposed projects
•Supervise junior scientists, engineers or technicians on assigned work. Build teams and staff to optimize efficiency and cost effectiveness. Mentor staff in development of technical and project development skills
•Provide input to lab management on staffing of overall project teams. Identify and evaluate candidates for open positions

User and Community Interaction
•Work directly with local researchers from UW, industry, national labs, and other academic institutions to support their needs through project planning, equipment training, design and processing implementation, and support.
•Use peer network to expand technical capabilities, identify new research opportunities.
•Initiate new project concepts and seek funding; develops technical proposals and makes presentations to potential customers/grant sponsors
•Communicate with users to thoroughly understand their research and facility needs, and report results.
•Develop and maintain technical and educational resources (in-person workshops, short courses, training modules, videos, manuals, online resources, and flyers) for the promotion and use of fabrication tools and facilities.
•Serve as support staff for lab classes held in WCET facilities.
•Represent WCET at science technology engineering and math (STEM) outreach activities and events.
•Represent WCET by serving as chair of sessions at technical meetings; presenting invited papers; participating in external seminars, workshops, professional societies and committees.
•Serve as lead staff member on research proposals in collaboration with lab users from UW and external, industry or academic partners.

Facility Operation
•Perform sample preparation, execution of analysis, interpretation of data, and reporting of results.  Lead training activities for staff and users on these activities.
•Lead staff members to schedule facilities and equipment use in an efficient fashion
•Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for facility users.  Suggest and document practical changes for approval by management.  Feasibility and validation studies of new or revised methods.
•Ensure compliance with UW and local regulatory and permitting authorities’ requirements.
•Make recommendations related to the organization of the lab, space, safety, equipment management, software, procedures, etc. to support continual process improvement within WCET.
•Contribute to reports to the university, sponsors, funding agencies, and other requesting organizations.

Equipment Maintenance
•Ensure performance basic preventative maintenance and calibrations directly or by delegation.
•Investigate instrument-related issues, execute troubleshooting procedures.
•Contact vendor maintenance specialists if problem cannot be fixed by WCET staff.
•Anticipate the need for consumables and accessories for equipment based on demand.
•Be cross trained on all fabrication, processing, manufacturing, material analysis, and device testing instruments.
•Test new materials and inks to expand applicability and explore full potential of WCET fabrication tools

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

•Required Education: Doctorate degree in science or engineering.
•At least 5 years working experience (professional, post-doctoral only) in fabrication and analytical laboratories.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL:

•Detailed knowledge of advanced, modular, and multi-functional roll-to-roll processing equipment
•Knowledge of and experience with designing and fabricating new functional ink solutions for specific applications.
•Experience with advanced additive manufacturing (3D printing, inkjet printing of functional materials, roll-to-roll manufacturing) and other printing and coating techniques for functional thin films.
•In depth knowledge of thin-film, printable photovoltaic and energy storage materials and devices.
•Experience with thin film and device characterization (SEM/EDS, XRD, TGA, FTIR, Profilometry, UV-Vis)
•Knowledge of and experience with health and safety regulations.
•Experience with complicated instrumentation with auxiliary equipment (chillers, vacuum pumps, etc.).
•Demonstration of logical problem solving to provide expedient and enduring corrective actions for laboratory problems.
•Ability to write and document lab policies and procedures clearly, communicate with users during training and supervisory exercises.
•Ability to multi-task and complete multiple projects in a timely manner
•Demonstration of personnel leadership skills and ability to train and interact with scientists with a range of backgrounds and levels of education.
•Experience with fabrication of novel devices and/or systems.
•Extensive background in chemistry, physics, materials science and/or engineering with a focus on analytical technique use and development
•Experience working in a university setting

Application Process:

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.