Alonzo W Ashley Fellowship

The Alonzo W. Ashley Fellowship Program was named in honor of Al Ashley, who retired from SLAC in 1999 after 31 years of dedicated and exemplary service, particularly in the area of championing diversity in the sciences and engineering. During his tenure at SLAC, Al pioneered programs that promoted diversity and encouraged career development for employees, and career exploration for dedicated students. He was a recipient of a 2005 NSF Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in recognition of his outstanding mentoring efforts and programs that enhanced the participation of historically underrepresented groups in science, mathematics, and engineering. Al served as a mentor to hundreds of emerging scientists and engineers during their journey to their chosen field.

This program is designed to provide a year-long research/employment experience in each of our six major directorates. The program is intended for underrepresented post-graduate candidates with the longer-term objective of potentially moving them into regular employment with the lab.

Note: This is a one-year fixed-term appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to a regular- continuing position. Assignment duration is contingent upon project needs and funding.

Position Overview

This project for the Al Ashley Fellowship will be for a versatile physicist, who will be working on innovative experiments at SLAC as well as learning about theoretical modeling.

This position will focus on two main components. The first is learning, engaging in, and helping to prepare, run, and understand experiments at the LCLS, as well as other synchrotron light sources, such as SSRL in Stanford, CA, the ALS in Berkeley, CA, or the NSLS-II in Brookhaven, NY. (Note: this could involve some minimal travel.) The main goal will be to measure novel types of materials, understand their properties, and publish the results.

The second part in this role is in developing and learning how to compute sophisticated models in condensed matter physics. This will mainly be focused on quantum materials, but could involve other systems outside of this field. Specifically, this will be to develop time-dependent DMRG (Density Matrix Renormalization Group) calculations to simulate the dynamical properties of microscopic models in the condensed matter systems of study. Depending on the experience of the candidate, this could also be in developing neural networks for the study of spin-lattice interactions.

Most importantly, these two areas will tie together as the Fellow will work on experiments that can be modeled from first principles, and perform calculations that can be measured directly.

Your specific responsibilities include:

• Participate in technical research utilizing and/or developing experimental equipment, devices, samples, plans, designs, reports, and/or data analysis.
• Support scientific and research programs related to materials physics; analyze data, monitor and be responsible for experimental process, and design and develop prototypes, specialized equipment, and/or systems.
• Modify, repair, and solve complex equipment and experimental systems.
• Prepare and review drawings, material lists, requisitions, job orders, engineering change requests, and other documents associated with development, fabrication, assembly, installations, and testing.
• Coordinate and work on scientific or engineering installations; plan and complete different phases of an operation, oversee schedule of equipment operations, and supervise routine maintenance.
• Acquire and maintain tools, equipment, and chemicals associated with experimental or engineering projects.
• Maintain documentation related to research studies and protocols, and perform administrative duties related to equipment and systems associated with research or engineering projects, as assigned.
• Liaise between researchers, students, technical staff, scientists, vendors, and other university staff; serve as a resource, providing training and practical guidance.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Associate Degree or certificate of completion in physics or a related scientific field and three years of relevant experience; or a combination of education and relevant experience. Bachelor's or advanced degree preferred.
• Experience applying scientific principles and practices to perform technical services and support.
• Experience with data analysis, experimental process, design, and development of prototypes, equipment, and/or systems related to experimental or theoretical physics.
• Ability to write clear documentation, perform administrative duties, and research protocol maintenance related to research studies and/or scientific/engineering projects.
• Experience with software, systems, or programming, preferably in Python, or similar language.
• Ability to interpret and determine validity of data.
• Ability to communicate, liaise, and work with staff, students, faculty, and outside vendors.
• Ability to effectively supervise and train a diverse work staff.
• The ideal candidate will be strongly motivated and curious about quantum materials.
• The ideal candidate will have an interest in both theory and experimental physics.
• Basic knowledge of condensed matter physics and linear algebra are needed, ideally to understand some tensor network algorithms.
• The knowledge for parallel computing in multimode CPU cluster or GPU would be a big plus.

SLAC employee competencies:

• Effective Decisions: Uses job knowledge and solid judgment to make quality decisions in a timely manner.
• Self-Development: Pursues a variety of venues and opportunities to continue learning and developing.
• Dependability: Can be counted on to deliver results with a sense of personal responsibility for expected outcomes.
• Initiative: Pursues work and interactions proactively with optimism, positive energy, and motivation to move things forward.
• Adaptability: Flexes as needed when change occurs, maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes.
• Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate written, spoken, presented messages.
• Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve common goals.

Physical requirements and working conditions:

• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Given the nature of this position, SLAC is open to on-site and hybrid work options.

Work Standards:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1—General Policy and Responsibilities:
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide,
• As an organization that receives federal funding, SLAC and Stanford University have a COVID-19 vaccination requirement that will apply to all university employees, including those working remotely in the United States and applicable subcontractors. To learn more about COVID policies and guidelines for Stanford University Staff, please visit

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• Classification Title: Science and Engineering Associate 1
• Grade: I Job code: 4991
• Employment Duration: 1-year fixed term

The expected pay range for this position is $79,000 - $112,000. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.