CAMP Research Engineer

at  Clarkson University

Job Title: CAMP Research Engineer
FLSA Status: Exempt
Department: Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP)
Title of Manager/Supervisor: Director of CAMP
Number of Employees Reporting to this Position: 0
Range: $55,000- $65,000
Position Summary: CAMP manages several laboratory facilities dedicated to characterizing materials using a variety of sophisticated instruments that determine mechanical, chemical and thermal properties of samples generated by faculty and students in their research activities. The CAMP Research Engineer is able to operate the various instruments and keeps them in good working order, as well as assists faculty and students in analyzing the data gathered. The candidate should be a research engineer with demonstrated extensive experience in employment of characterization tools, including but not limited to: Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Thermal-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Profilometry, Rheology, Nanoindentation, Particle Sizing, Optical Microscopy, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry. The candidate must have a desire to assist University’s research faculty in conducting a strong materials research program based on the data provided by employment of the suite of CAMP analytical tools. The candidate must closely interact with researchers in the University and contribute to the overall research program at CAMP. Candidate must also closely interact, assist and communicate with graduate students and/or undergraduate students as well as members of the CAMP staff.
General Purpose: To provide high quality, reliable service to researchers who utilize CAMP’s instruments to support their materials-related research projects.
Remote Workdays- This is a full time on Campus position with zero remote workdays.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and other common software packages
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to work without supervisor and get tasks completed
• Able to problem solve, suggest and implement solutions
• Computer applications/programs: Able to complete tasks in PeopleSoft, Adobe
• Acrobat EMS
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion

MINIMAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree (BS) Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or other Science/Engineering discipline.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters Degree (MS) (preferred) or doctoral degree (PhD) in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or other closely related fields of Engineering.

MINIMAL EXPERIENCE:

• 1 year of hands-on experience as Researcher/Technician/Analyst in University or Industry

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• 4+ years of hands on experience as Researcher/Technician/Analyst in University or Industry
  An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, Clarkson University actively seeks and encourages applications from minorities, women and people with disabilities.
  All offers of employment are subject to the applicant successfully passing a background check (including, but not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, and criminal records).

Physical Demands: The physical demands characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee must be able to sit at a computer for extended periods of time using a keyboard
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is occasionally required to lift and move boxes up to 25 lbs.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, bend and stoop.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Operate CAMP’s materials characterization instruments and analytical with a focus on materials engineering
• Determine and recommend to faculty and/or students the most relevant analytical approach to obtain the best data for the study being conducted
• Apply extensive knowledge of and experience with failure modes for static and fatigue tests of structural components, prepare test procedures, acquire, analyze, and interpret data obtained by various means of mechanical analysis in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.
• Apply extensive knowledge of and experience covering the structural strength, basic static and dynamic loads, stress and strain analysis, static test, fatigue analysis/assessment, and evaluation the processes and fabrication methods to produce faculty’s and student’s material specimens involving a variety of materials including, but not limited to metals, semiconductors, dielectrics, ceramics, nanocomposites, catalysts, energy harvesting associated materials, superconductors, and 2-dimensional materials.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Share analytical duties with Laboratory Manager in case of scheduling conflicts or times of high usage
• Conduct the experimental sessions with users Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), Rheology, Thermo-Mechanical Analysis (TMA), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
• Assist users with the analysis/ interpretation of their data
• Assist users to design their experiments according to their needs and with the instruments capabilities and limitations in mind
• Perform sample preparation when required, train users on sample prep, and/or consult with users about the best sample prep procedures for their need
• Communicate with faculty about their research, how CAMP can meet their analytical needs, and be available to collaboratively develop new analytical capabilities
• Communicate with industry to answer general or specific questions about materials engineering capabilities. Give tours and engage with CAMP visitors Perform repair and maintenance on analytical instrumentation.
• Communicate with manufacturers to determine the best course of action, and arrange for service visits when necessary
• Clean and organize labs
• Ensure that instrumentation usage is accurately recorded and work with CAMP office to verify billing charges
• Implement and manage EMS scheduling of CAMP instrumentation
• Order supplies and consumables for sample preparation
• Train students/faculty to use the analytical instruments
• Assist marketing personnel with information, data examples, and writing/editing
• Set up and manage lab space for new instrumentation Train users on sample prep and best hygienic handling practices when operating instrumentation
• Develop new sample prep and analytical capabilities with current instrumentation by keeping up with current literature of analytical practices
• Perform or assist with educational exhibitions of instrumentation for faculty, students, and industry depending on the requested techniques
• Help students, faculty, or industry partners analyze and interpret characterization data
• Manage data storage through keeping computer files well organized and maintaining an updated backup of data files
• Communicate CAMP analytical capabilities to faculty and student
• Use student, faculty, and industry feedback in order to modify labs to best meet user demand
• Diagnose instrumentation problems based on best-known practices
• Perform scheduled routine measurements of known standards
• Schedule and assist with PM visits of all instrumentation under service contract or warranty (currently SEMs, TEM, atomic force microscope (AFM)
• Manage inventories of items consumed through sample preparation and instrument operation
• Clean out clutter in analytical rooms and spaces
• Remove old unused equipment
• Add or remove instrumentation to asset list
• Performance of above duties require you to be at work on Campus
• Assist with other projects, administrative duties, and initiatives as assigned
  Health & Safety: All staff has a statutory responsibility to take reasonable care of themselves, others and the environment and to prevent harm by their acts or omissions. All staff is therefore required to adhere to the University’s Health, Safety, and Environmental Policy & Procedures.
  DISCLAIMER: The above statements are designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, skills, and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

Physical Demands: The physical demands characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee must be able to sit at a computer for extended periods of time using a keyboard
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is occasionally required to lift and move boxes up to 25 lbs.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, bend and stoop