Postdoctoral Scholar in Materials and Detector Physics

Position overview

Position title :

Postdoctoral Scholar in Materials and Detector Physics

Salary range :

Commensurate with qualifications and experience. The posted UCSC salary scales set the minimum pay based on the individual's Experience Level , which is determined by the number of months of postdoctoral service at any institution. See the salary scale titled, Postdoctoral Scholar-Employee / Postdoctoral Scholar-Fellow / Postdoctoral Scholar-Paid Direct -Fiscal Year . A reasonable estimate for this position is $69,073 - $74,281.

Percent time : Full-time (100%)

Anticipated start :

October 1, 2025. Degree requirements must be completed by September 30, 2025, for employment effective October 1, 2025, and beyond.

Position duration :

Maximum Duration of Service in a Postdoctoral Title : Postdoctoral Scholar appointments are full-time and the initial appointment is for a minimum of two years, with the possibility of reappointment. The total duration of an individual's postdoctoral service may not exceed five years, including postdoctoral service at any institution.

Application Window

Open date : July 28, 2025

Most recent review date : Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date : Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Professor Shiva Abbaszadeh in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for two Postdoctoral Scholars in Materials and Detector Physics.

The Radiological Instrumentation Laboratory (RIL) is run by Assistant Professor Shiva Abbaszadeh of the ECE Department at UC Santa Cruz. RIL works on detector instrumentation from start to finish, beginning with materials exploration, detector fabrication and characterization, instrument design and construction, data acquisition, and signal processing. We collaborate with other groups at UCSC and other universities, National Labs, and industry partners, all working to advance technology in radiation detection. The successful candidate will join a dynamic research team focused on advancing the field of radiation detection and detector development through innovative materials design, investigation, and application to imaging systems.

In this role, and under the supervision and mentorship of Professor Abbaszadeh, you will investigate novel alloyed amorphous chalcogenides, diving into the underlying physics of these materials and how they may be incorporated into sensors for medical imaging, high energy physics, and bioimaging.

This position's duties will include the following :

• Synthesis of amorphous chalcogenide materials, including amorphous selenium and its alloys, by thermal evaporation.
• Fabrication of multi-layer radiation detectors (single pixel, flat panel, CMOS) using techniques such as electron beam evaporation, sputtering, spin-coating, and thermal evaporation.
• Perform materials and device characterization, including time of flight, IV and CV measurement, X-ray response, photo-induced effects, cryogenic behavior, XRD, Raman spectroscopies.
• Modeling of material and detector physics as it relates to observed phenomena, using COMSOL, MATLAB, or other software.

Participate in experimental data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

Prepare and present research through talks and posters at conferences, workshops, and at regular group meetings.

We encourage the investigation of new materials and techniques outside of the lab's current specialties, and welcome you to bring your own expertise to the group.

Applicants with any of the following areas of expertise or experience are strongly encouraged to apply :

Radiological Instrumentation Laboratory : https : / / ril.soe.ucsc.edu /

UCSC Baskin Engineering : https : / / engineering.ucsc.edu /

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

(required at the time the application is submitted)

Ph.D. (or equivalent foreign degree) in Physics, Engineering, Materials Science or a field relevant to the advertised position. Ph.D. must be in hand at the time of the appointment (rather than at the time of application). It is expected that the degree requirement will be completed by September 30, 2025.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V., which must include 1) your publications, and 2) contact information for three (3) professional references. The hiring unit will conduct reference checks for those applicants who are under serious consideration.

Cover Letter - One page maximum

Statement of Research - Two page maximum

(Optional)

Ph.D. Degree certificate (Optional)

Apply link :

https : / / recruit.ucsc.edu / JPF01981

Help contact : ece-dept@ucsc.edu

About UC Santa Cruz

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

APM - 035 : Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at jobaccommodations@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4602.

Notice of Availability : In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), UCSC publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report . This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check . The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz, as outlined in campus policy CAPM 102.530 .

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

UCSC is committed to addressing the spousal and partner employment needs of our candidates and employees. As part of this commitment, our institution is a member of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCal HERC). Visit the NorCal HERC website to search for open positions within a commutable distance of our institution.

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work / life balance.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and / or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

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Job location

Santa Cruz, CA