How to Apply
A detailed cover letter is required for consideration when applying for this position and should be uploaded via the UM Careers website as the first page(s) of a single, electronic document of application materials that also includes your CV or resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline your skills and experience that directly relate to the duties described below.
Job Summary
Works as part of a collaborative team of postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate students to progress research in experimental atomic physics. Specific responsibilities include developing and testing spatial light modulator technology, developing a optical tweezer trapping setup (incorporating acousto-optic modulators, deflectors, and SLMs), developing and testing a codebase for arbitrary waveform programming (including a C-to-Python library), and building a computing and networking infrastructure for a new laboratory, including experimental control software and FPGA programming. Position is expected to last for 10 months, and could additionally incorporate opportunities in vacuum chamber and electronics design depending on candidate interest.
Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
- Generous time off, including vacation time, sick time, holiday and season days
- A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
In addition, LSA offers:
- Strong commitment to work/life balance
- Flexible work arrangements with respect to campus stakeholder needs
- Enhanced tuition support programs for LSA courses
Being part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of discovery and care - that's the heart of what drives people to work at Michigan. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. It's adding a purpose to your profession. Work at Michigan and become a victor for the greater good.
Responsibilities*
25% - Development of spatial light modulator technology. This project would involve building an understanding of how to generate phase patterns to create arbitrary light patterns for trapping atoms. It would involve optimizing these patterns based on the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm, and then building out an optical setup to test whether these phase patterns can successfully turn a Gaussian beam into the arbitrary predicted patterns.
25% - Building an optics setup using 938nm light for trapping atoms, including setting up acousto-optic deflectors to generate optical tweezers for future incorporation into the experimental setup.
25% - Testing code written during a summer project (done by the same person) for an arbitrary waveform generator to output waveforms with 2ns sample resolution. This would involve coding in C for extremely fast feedback-based rearrangement of optical tweezers, as well as building a library codebase to interface with Python, which is what the control software for the experiment will use. The student has particular experience with coding in C and a strong CS background, which is rare for physics undergraduates to have. Similar projects have taken previous graduate students I've worked with (in prior positions) many months. I am confident this student could do it in a summer, with time to spare..
25% - Building up a computing and programming infrastructure for the new lab being built in 3214, including all experimental control software and FPGA programming as the control hardware timebase.
Required Qualifications*
Bachelor degree in Physics or related field is required.
Desired Qualifications*
1 to 2 years experience in the development of spatial light modulator technology, building computing and programming infrastructure, and testing code is preferred.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
The annual salary range is $38,000-$47,000. Please note a higher salary may be offered based on equity and the selected candidate's experience.
This is an 10-month term-limited position with the possibility of renewal. The anticipated start date is October 1, 2025.
As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.
To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategic vision.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.