Drs. Tara M. Lovestead, Angela C. Stelson, and Jason Widegren

https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/electric-acoustic-spectroscopy-intermolecular-interactions-solution#OnChip

NIST’s Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) and Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to develop new spectroscopy for intermolecular interactions. The team is pioneering an electric-acoustic spectrometer that selectively drives and detects intermolecular interactions and developing new electric-acoustic spectral simulations. This spectroscopy is a step towards tailored intermolecular interactions to increase chemical separation yield and optimize separations design.

We are seeking collaborators to work with NIST researchers to develop on-chip electric-acoustic spectroscopy to characterize intermolecular interactions in solution. We will integrate high-frequency electronic devices with ultrasound acoustic devices and microfluidics. Our approach leverages advanced on-wafer calibration and measurement techniques to accurately define the broadband impedance of custom-designed on-chip devices. Methods include the design of on-wafer devices and packaging, fabrication, and testing at microwave and mm-wave electrical frequencies and ultrasound acoustic frequencies.

Validation of the electric-acoustic spectroscopy will be done with existing techniques including high-pressure NMR, acoustic spectroscopy, and dielectric spectroscopy. Validation will begin with simple, well-known intermolecular interactions such as the ion-pairing of crown ethers. This collaboration is with an interdisciplinary team of experimentalists and theorists.

key words

Wireless (RF); Chemistry; Chemical thermodynamics; chemical properties; Electromagnetics; Materials characterization; Electrical electromagnetic metrology

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants