| Date: |
May, 2016 |
| Reports to (Job Title): |
Giga to Nanoelectronics Faciltity Manager |
| Jobs Reporting (Job Titles): |
Jobs Reporting |
| Department: |
Electrical & Computer Engineering |
Location: |
Waterloo Campus |
Grade: |
USG 10
37.5 hrs/wk
|
Primary Purpose
The Research Process Specialist (Specialist) is responsible for operational excellence in the Giga-to- Nanoelectronics (G2N) laboratory. The G2N lab is a nanoscience research facility that provides users, both internal and external, access to expertise and instrumentation in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. The Specialist supports the visibility and reputation of the G2N Centre by maintaining the sound technical and operational capability of the lab. This position provides highly specialized technical research support, scientific expertise and consultation for G2N research activities. Additionally, this position oversees the Foundry Lab services and its thin film deposition and transistor fabrication operations. S/he will also collaborate with faculty members assigned with the tasks of planning and delivering lab courses in the nanotechnology (NE) program
Key Accountabilities:
1.
Lab Operations:
- Creates and upholds policies for equipment operation and handling of materials;
- Designs and documents baseline fabrication recipes for all equipment and maintains a library of stable, well-characterized standard processes;
- Develops and implements quality assurance programs related to calibration and maintenance of equipment;
- Develops new test systems and upgrades to existing test systems;
- Develops new fabrication process flows for the development of electronic devices outside of the baseline recipes;
- Ensures that all lab equipment performs optimally and consistently and performs regular checks of equipment for mechanical stability;
- Continuously monitors equipment cleanliness and process compatibilities to ensure optimal infrastructure performance, and consistent and reliable baseline processes. Initiate corrective actions as needed;
- Acts as an information source to faculty members, researchers, graduate students and technicians in meeting instrumentation needs;
- Coordinates the functions and operations of various laboratories with each other;
- Recommends and participates in procurement and installation of equipment, including calibration of new test systems;
- Communicates Health & Safety guidelines to users, coordinates safety training as required, and instructs new users on cleanroom protocols;
- Ensures applicable safety requirements and guidelines are met and minimizes risk by controlling hazards.
2. Oversight of Research Lab Users:
- Provides engineering assistance, instruction and consultation to faculty, student or industrial researchers to achieve research objectives;
- Educates users on effective methods and demonstrates techniques for operating equipment;
- Trains and certifies new users in safe use of advanced equipment operation and test systems;
- Provides technical direction to other research staff, industry associates, technicians, and students;
- Supervises graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to ensure compliance with standard operating practices;
- Assists users with electrical test and characterization of devices, circuits and systems fabricated/prototyped in the G2N lab;
- Limits or prevents introduction of materials which damage or compromise equipment;
- Evaluates process flows and equipment process submissions to ensure feasibility and compatibility;
In conjunction with management, allows/denies user access to equipment based on compatibility and contamination considerations;
3. Foundry Lab:
- Consults with potential new users or customers of the G2N lab;
- Provides expert consultation and collaboration regarding technical requirements, capabilities and new approaches to research;
- Performs specialized technical tasks to design, develop, fabricate and test specialized structures for use in research and related activities;
- Plans and conducts engineering experiments to test theoretical propositions and research findings;
- Prepares samples for study, performs tests and conducts research in support of projects;
- Designs experimental prototypes and directs technicians in fabrication of finished product;
- Develops processes and procedures to meet client requirements;
- Makes modifications to specifications as required to achieve desired results;
- Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates systems to assess current and projected laboratory services and productivity;
- Maintains standard processes to guarantee devices to meet published specifications;
- Responsible for Foundry Laboratory equipment calibration, raw material usage, etc.;
- Responsible for material and equipment evaluations to improve quality or reduce costs;
- Demonstrates equipment stability and repeatability via the establishment and routine running of quality and reliability tests such as Statistical Process Controls (SPC);
- Coordinates and directs recipe/process development initiatives as needed.
4.
Instruction of students and assessment of their academic performance:
- Prepares lab experiments and provides instructions related to NE undergrad labs;
- Designs, constructs and tests specific set-ups for some lab experiments;
- Monitors students’ lab progress by evaluating reports and lab exams in the technical and theoretical aspects of the subject matter;
- Ensures academic integrity is maintained in the lab;
- Assesses NE work term reports;
- Assists students on an individual or group basis with lab and related assignments/problems;
- Evaluates NE student technical presentations and symposium poster marking;
- Consults/coaches/marks student fourth-year design projects;
- Develops experiments and writes laboratory materials/manuals in conjunction with faculty;
- Recommends and/or makes necessary changes in materials, techniques or procedures to optimize the value of the lab exercise;
- Plans new labs, conducts and evaluates prototype labs;
- Keeps lab content and resources current.
5. Other Duties:
- Attends lab planning and review sessions;
- Maintains an awareness of current innovations in the area and, where feasible, incorporates them into the laboratory processes;
- Assists with other duties or special projects which may be assigned by the Facility Manager or Director, Giga-to-Nanoelectronics Centre.
Position Requirements
Education:
Masters of Applied Science degree in Engineering, or equivalent combination of education and experience. PhD degree preferred.
Has fundamental knowledge in clean room and metrology suite operation.
Experience:
Minimum five years of experience managing lab operations.
Experience with techniques used in characterizing fabricated test structures and devises including both electrical and physical analysis methods.
Expertise in thin-film materials and device processing.
Expertise in manufacture of display technologies and with process development of flexible electronics for display applications.
Technical:
Broad knowledge of current applications used in a clean room and semiconductor device fabrication environment.
Technical:
| MS Word |
Excel |
PowerPoint |
Other |
| Intermediate |
Intermediate |
Basic |
Databases: Intermediate (SharePoint/FileMakerPro/Oracle or other)
Other: Extensive hardware and software knowledge in the area of nanotechnology engineering and/or science.
Scanning electron microscope, profilometer, ellipsometer |
Nature and Scope
Interpersonal Skills:
Internally, the Specialist liaises with lab staff, graduate students, faculty members, research personnel, and Safety Office Plant Operations, as well as administrative staff to present, discuss information and problems. Externally, the Specialist will have contacts relevant to accomplishing laboratory delivery objectives, as well as equipment and/or software suppliers to clarify information and discuss problems.
Level of Responsibility:
The job has specialized work with minimal supervision and provides guidance to others. S/he is responsible for the efficient operation of the G2N clean room and metrology suite. The Specialist ensures graduate students are made competent to perform the work they have been assigned through training and supervision. The Specialist identifies and designs solutions to a wide range of unique problems and other research activities.
Decision-Making Authority:
The incumbent develops fab equipment operating policies based on current needs, academic/industry best practices, university guidelines and G2N policies. S/he develops technical and methodological solutions to complex engineering/scientific problems requiring independent analytical thinking and advanced knowledge.
Physical and Sensory Demands:
Moderate demands typical of a technical position operating within a research lab environment that may involve lifting of equipment, rearranging, and standing for extended periods of time. Delicate manipulation of frangible materials and devices. Much of the time is spent working in a cleanroom environment where cleanroom gowning (head to toe) must be worn.
Working Environment:
Safety procedures must be strictly enforced. Occasional exposure to chemicals and/or fumes.
Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week. Lab space and scheduling restrictions may necessitate after hours work. Work outside of normal hours may be occasionally being required to deal with emergencies, maintenance, upgrades, or scheduling issues.
