RESEARCH & DEV ENGINEER III

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

RESEARCH & DEV ENGINEER III

STEM Facility Manager

Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility

The STEM Facility Manager will oversee the operation of Duke University's state-of-the-art cryogenic scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and Focused Ion Beam (FIB) equipment, located in the Pratt School of Engineering. These instruments are part of the expanding electron microscopy facility in Duke University. The STEM is a cutting-edge aberration-corrected JEOL Grand-ARM, equipped with advanced analytical capabilities, such as an EFTEM with two direct electron cameras, a fast scan system, and various in situ stages. The FIB is an FEI Helios 5CX equipped with high-resolution STEM and EDX detectors, along with a cryogenic transfer stage.

The STEM/FIB Facility Team Leader's responsibilities include managing the day-to-day operation, user training, and maintenance of the STEM and FIB instruments. This leader will collaborate directly with Duke's research community to support cutting-edge research in various fields within engineering and the natural sciences. The ideal candidate will offer scientific leadership and effectively manage the STEM and FIB instruments. This position requires a technologist with deep expertise in state-of-the-art electron microscopy techniques, encompassing both theory and practical operation. The successful candidate should also demonstrate a strong commitment to training the next generation of scientists and engineers. This includes providing support for experimental development and hands-on training with the instruments. Furthermore, the team leader should be customer-focused, actively engage with students, faculty, and administration to promote the growth and development of the SMIF facility.

The team leader is encouraged to coordinate activities with other microscopy capabilities at Duke University and neighboring facilities in the RTP region.  Additionally, establishing collaborations with faculty members at Duke and nearby universities and industries is encouraged. The Team Leader will have opportunities to engage with the local electron microscopy community, attend s ignificant EM conferences, and implement cutting-edge EM techniques within our facility.

• Manage and operate the STEM and FIB instrument(s) in SM IF on a day-to-day basis, including equipment operation and maintenance, and user training.
• Establish and implement maintenance procedures and schedules.  Conduct microscope alignments and performance checks to ensure that the STEM and FIB are operating at peak performance. 
• Interface and coordinate with research teams to work together to meet research goals. Develop processes and techniques as required to meet research goals. Provide instruction, assistance, and consultation to faculty, students, staff members, and outside researchers regarding all equipment and processes related to the STEM and FIB.
• Perform triage on equipment failures; fix equipment when appropriate; coordinate service with vendors when needed.  Provide resolution of technical problems related to the stem and FIB.
• Lead in the creation and maintenance of operating procedures, usage scheduling, and other documentation. 
• Coordinate and maintain lab supply inventory required for operations of theSTEM and FIB.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Equipment Set- Up and Operation (33%)

Equipment Maintenance and Performance Verification (33%)

User Scheduling, Training and Assistance (33%)

Education/Training:

Requires a minimum of a Bachelor's degree (an advanced degree is preferred) in materials science or another engineering field. Preference will be given to candidates with a Ph.D. degree and post-doctoral experience in STEM. Work requires a solid working knowledge of STEM and FIB.

Experience:

Work requires four years of related S/TEM experience. A relevant advanced degree can be counted toward the experience requirement. Candidates with experience in the alignment and maintenance of an aberration-corrected STEM are preferred. Experience with advanced STEM techniques, including 4D-STEM, EELS, and in situ microscopy (liquid/gas-cell, biasing, and cooling), is strongly preferred.

Skills:

- Must be skilled in operating and maintaining a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM).  Good interpersonal and communication skills are essential. 

- Must have the ability to work with and train students, faculty, and co-workers.

- Must have knowledge of word processing and spreadsheets, and be able to type correspondence and to log in data. 

- Must be able to organize data and be willing to work with the SMIF Director in managing and maintaining the laboratory.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types and level of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Work requires a thorough knowledge of the principles of engineering and related natural sciences acquired through completion of a Bachelor's degree program in an Engineering science or a related natural science such as physics or Chemistry. Due to professional exemption, equivalent experience cannot be substituted for a bachelor's degree.

Work requires four years of related experience such as an Engineer OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE. sufficient to acquire competency in the application of knowledge in the related Engineering field. A master's degree in Engineering science or a related natural science may offset two years of experience.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.