Posting Detail Information Working TitlePostdoctoral Research Fellow - Advanced Laser Diagnostics Position LocationFort Collins, CO Work LocationPosition is fully in-office/in-person Research Professional PositionYes Posting Number202402198AP Position TypeAdmin Professional/ Research Professional Classification TitlePostdoctoral Fellows Number of Vacancies Work Hours/Week40 Proposed Annual Salary Range$55,000 - $80,000 Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Employee Benefits Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, commitment todiversity, equity and inclusion (https://inclusiveexcellence.colostate.edu/about/) , and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact. + Review our detailed benefits information here. (https://hr.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/01/benefits-summary-afap.pdf) + Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here. + For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator (https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/) . + Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in (https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-community/) ! Desired Start Date01/20/2025 Position End Date (if temporary) To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on01/12/2025 Description of Work Unit As one of the nation’s top public research universities, Colorado State University ( CSU ) in Fort Collins, Colorado, is a land-grant institution, with enrollment of more than 33,000 students. CSU offers 76 undergraduate degree programs, 114 graduate degree programs, 21 professional master’s degree programs, and a Professional Veterinary Medicine program. CSU’s world-class research and scholarship attract more than $400 million in research funding annually, putting the university among top federally funded public universities without a medical school. Colorado’s Front Range is a high-tech hub with companies such as Woodward, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, IBM , Intel, Keysight Technologies, Broadcomm, AMD , Xilinx, Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman located in or near Fort Collins. Fort Collins is an attractive community of approximately 170,000 located along the Colorado Front Range at the base of the Rocky Mountains, 65 miles north of Denver. The city is routinely recognized as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. It consistently ranks high on quality of life measures by numerous publications; seehttps://www (http://www.fcgov.com/visitor/awards) .fcgov.com/visitor/awards (http://www.fcgov.com/visitor/awards) for the complete list. The city offers a pleasant climate with excellent schools and abundant cultural and recreational opportunities nearby. For more information on Fort Collins, check out the City’s website:www.visitftcollins.com. The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) at CSU offers a curriculum that integrates exceptional classroom learning and in-depth engineering practice for an unparalleled educational experience. Made up of 44 faculty members, 12 staff members, 1,000 undergraduate students, and 125 graduate students, ME is one of the largest departments on CSU’s campus. State-of-the-art labs provide unmatched, hands-on experience to help undergraduate students conceptualize industry environments, and $11M in annual research funding provide groundbreaking opportunities focusing on health, materials, and energy, for graduate students to enhance their educational concentrations. Award-winning faculty offer industry and academic perspective, and equip each graduate with the tools needed to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields. The Mechanical Engineering program at CSU includes majors in both Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering-Mechanical Engineering; both curriculum combine classroom learning with engineering practice. The Department recently added specialties for Aerospace Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, offering undergraduate concentrations, a graduate certificate, a Master of Engineering (M.E.) with specialization, and a Master of Science (M.S.) with a specialized master’s thesis. Our goal is to give our graduates the engineering skills they need to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields. Our students are integral members of our research groups and their thesis and dissertation topics focus on cutting-edge research. Further information about the Department can be found atwww.engr.colostate.edu/me/. The Center for Laser Sensing and Diagnostics, led by Professor Azer Yalin, is housed within state-of-the-art facilities at CSU’s Powerhouse Energy Campus and CSU’s Engineering Research Center. Yalin’s group is a research leader in the area of laser diagnostics of plasma, electric propulsion, combustion, and the atmosphere. Position Summary The Center for Laser Sensing and Diagnostics (Yalin group) at Colorado State University is seeking a highly skilled, motivated, and independent Postdoctoral Fellow to contribute laser diagnostic expertise to our group’s research efforts. We are looking for a candidate who can support one or more projects in broad areas of advanced propulsion and/or hydrogen emissions monitoring. Research on the advanced propulsion side is oriented at developing and applying new laser diagnostics to electric propulsion (EP) systems with emphasis on detailed, spatially- and temporally- resolved, species-specific measurements. A new effort, to be funded by the USSF , seeks to examine operation of EP devices on molecular propellants. A key step will be to develop novel Doppler-based LIF diagnostics for measuring ion velocities (IVDFs) of relevant ionic species in these systems. For the molecular propellants it will also be important to measure rotationally- and vibrationally- resolved species populations. Our effort on measuring atmospheric hydrogen emissions are in support of the burgeoning hydrogen economy and will be supported by ARPA -E H2Sense program. The approach, for sensitive and quantitative measurements, is to use the Photoacoustic Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy ( PARS ) method. Research tasks will include design, development and optimization of the full PARS system including a Raman cell pumping scheme, a photoacoustic cavity, and an optical multi-pass cell (around the PA cavity) to increase signal levels. The PARS sensor will be developed and tested for real-world outdoor usage with an eye to developing a commercial product. We seek a post-doctoral fellow who can contribute to one or both of the above projects. The postdoctoral fellow will also be expected to produce high-quality research and present their work at conferences and via peer-reviewed publications. Required Job Qualifications + Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or a related field majority completed with expected completion by June 2025. + At least 3 years of experience (can include graduate school) in hands-on laser spectroscopy and/or laser diagnostics. + Ability to design, conduct, analyze and publish experimental research as evidenced by publication record. Preferred Job Qualifications + Demonstrated experience with trace-gas or species-specific detection via laser spectroscopy using LIF , TLDAS , WMS , cavity ring-down spectroscopy or photoacoustic spectroscopy, with application to plasma or combustion diagnostics or to atmospheric sensing. + Demonstrated experience in the operation of plasmas and plasma sources (e.g., cathodes, ion thrusters, Hall effect thrusters) within vacuum chamber setups and knowledge of associated vacuum hardware (pumps, flow systems, pressure gauges etc.). + Demonstrated experience with pulsed laser diagnostic techniques for gas-phase (or plasma) measurements including Raman scattering, stimulated Raman scattering, CARS , PARS , Rayleigh scattering, Thomson scattering etc. Diversity Statement Ability to advance the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion through research, teaching and outreach with relevant programs, goals and activities. Essential Duties Job Duty CategoryConduct Laser Diagnostic Research Duty/Responsibility + Design optical setups and source components. + Implement optical setups on the benchtop. + Perform measurements from laser-based experiments (acquire and interpret data, troubleshoot issues). + Data synthesis and analysis. + Transition initial breadboard setups to more relevant, applied setups. + Conduct laser measurements on relevant (larger scale) facilities or setups. + Maintain a strong understanding of current literature and related research efforts at other research institutions. + Contribute to laboratory organization and maintaining equipment. Percentage Of Time75% Job Duty CategorySupervise and Develop Junior Research Staff Duty/Responsibility + Assist in the selection and hiring of undergraduate and graduate student research staff and staff engineers. + Train and mentor graduate students and junior staff. + Oversee the development and implementation of specific experiments and analysis tasks by junior researchers. + Assure that a safe, equitable and supportive environment is maintained at all times. Percentage Of Time15% Job Duty CategoryManuscript Writing Duty/Responsibility + Lead and work with team members to develop outlines and draft text for peer-review manuscripts. + Prepare manuscripts for journal and conference submissions. + Present results of research at national scientific meetings and other appropriate forums. Percentage Of Time10 Application Details Special Instructions to Applicants Interested applicants must submit a cover letter which addresses how professional experiences align with identified required and preferred qualifications of the position and a current resume or CV. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Yalin, Azer.Yalin@colostate.edu. CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. Conditions of EmploymentPre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires) Search ContactAzer Yalin, Azer.Yalin@ColoState.EDU EEO Statement Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. TheOffice of Equal Opportunity (https://oeo.colostate.edu/) is located in 101 Student Services. The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715,titleix@colostate.edu. The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836,oeo@colostate.edu. The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836,oeo@colostate.edu. Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to theOffice of Civil Rights, Department of Education (https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html) . Background Check Policy Statement Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so. References Requested References Requested Minimum Requested3 Maximum Requested3 Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*). + * Do you have at least 3 years of experience (can include graduate school) in hands-on laser spectroscopy and/or laser diagnostics? + Yes + No + * IMPORTANT NOTE: This position is located at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado which is approximately 55 MILES NORTH OF DENVER. Are you willing and able to accept work at this location? + Yes + No Applicant Documents Required Documents + Cover Letter + Resume or CV Optional Documents