NEWS
Postdoctoral Position Available!
A full-time postdoctoral position is available in the Materials Science & Engineering Department at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. The candidate will be mentored by Prof. Siddha Pimputkar and will perform work within his Materials for Advanced Technologies & Sustainability (MATS) Group. The position is looking to be filled immediately.
Position Details:
A successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with Prof. Siddha Pimputkar and collaborators on developing a new high-pressure spatial chemical vapor deposition tool (HPS-CVD). This position will focus on analyzing and improving upon the current mechanical design and computational fluid dynamic model of this new equipment using COMSOL/SOLIDWORKS. This tool is being developed as part of an awarded NSF MRI Grant. The candidate’s contribution will aid in developing a successful prototype that will be manufactured and used to grow thin films of nitrides. The candidate will also have the opportunity to engage with the experimental team to gain exposure to the needs and use-cases of this tool and our industrial partner. Furthermore, candidates will have the opportunity to be exposed to ongoing research in the MATS group related to the single crystal growth and extended research happening in the Center for Photonics and Nanoelectronics as part of the Institute of Functional Materials and Devices at Lehigh.
Minimum qualifications:
1. Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, or related engineering field
2. Strong background in computational fluid dynamic modeling of systems
3. Experience in using COMSOL and SOLIDWORKS
4. Strong written and oral communication skills
The position is for one year, with a possible extension depending on funding and performance. This position is open until a suitable candidate is identified. The ideal candidate would be able to start immediately, though a negotiated start date within Q1 2022 is also possible.
Application:
To apply, please submit a CV, cover letter (no more than two pages, 12 pt. font, 1-inch margin) and contact information of three references (name with position title, phone, and email address). In your cover letter, please summarize your relevant research experience.
Questions regarding this position and applications materials should be directed to Prof. Siddha Pimputkar (siddha@lehigh.edu). Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Siddha recognized with Lehigh Early Career Award for Distinguished Teaching
Siddha Pimputkar receives Lehigh University’s Lehigh Early Career Award for Distinguished Teaching award for his innovative teaching methods and curriculum development he implemented in multiple courses he has taught since joining Lehigh.
PI is Program co-Chair for next ACCGE
Siddha Pimputkar is excited to serve as the ACCGE Program co-Chair with Prof. Balaji Raghothamachar and Conference co-Chairs Profs. Michael Dudley and Partha Dutta for the American Conference for Crystal Growth and Epitaxy in 2023 in Tucson.
PI recognized with Young Scientist Award
Siddha Pimputkar is the recipient of the 2021 American Association for Crystal Growth (AACG) Young Scientist Award! As winner of the professional association’s Young Scientist Award, Pimputkar will give a plenary talk on “Enhancing and Enabling Single Crystal Growth of Group-III and Novel Nitrides” at the 22nd American Conference on Crystal Growth and Epitaxy (ACCGE-22) and 20th US Workshop on Organometallic Vapor Phase Epitaxy (OMVPE-20), which will be held virtually August 2-4, 2021.
PI elected to Executive Committee of AACG
Siddha Pimputkar has been elected for a four-year term to the American Association for Crystal Growth (AACG) Executive Committee. Excited and grateful for the opportunity to better service the crystal growth community!
PI awarded NSF CAREER!
Very exciting news: PI Siddha Pimputkar was awarded the prestigious NSF CAREER for his proposed work on a new synthesis approach for the realization of a wide array of nitride materials in single crystal form! Even more reason to anxiously await completion of the lab construction to start ramping up impactful work for the nitride community.
Welcome to the team, Jonny Valenzuela!
Great to have a new face join our team expand on our synthesis capabilities! Welcome Jonny and look forward to many fruitful discussions and hope to create some big single crystal nitrides using the Li-flux approach!
New nitride synthesis approach IP protected
Exciting new synthesis approach for nitrides proposed as part of the PI’s CAREER proposal is now IP protected and moving forward towards a formal patent application! Will be the first in many technologically and industrial important IP work coming out of this group laying the foundation for an inexpensive, high-yield synthesis process for single crystal nitrides, including but not limited to cubic BN, hexagonal BN, GaN, AlN and its ternary alloys in bulk form.