Development of Solar Blind UV Photodetectors and Photocathodes Using III-Nitride Material

Overview

Organization NASA

Reference Code 0064-NPP-MAR
26-JPL-Tech Dev

How To Apply All applications must be submitted in Zintellect. Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements:

How to Apply

| NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org). A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:
Research proposal
Three letters of recommendation
Official doctoral transcript documents

Final date to receive applications 3/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

About the NASA Postdoctoral Program
The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

Description We are currently developing an all solid-state photon counting detector to operate in solar blind ultraviolet range using a new III-N avalanche photodiode (APD) array technology. Compared to the current state-of-the-art in flight-ready microchannel plate (MCP) sealed tubes, this Solar-blind Ultraviolet AValanche (SUAV) detector array technology will increase the QE by at least a factor of 5 and significantly enhance both fabrication yield and reliability.

Since it is solid state, it does not require high voltage, and it does not require a photocathode that requires cesium or other highly reactive material for activation. Furthermore, due to wide bandgap of the material, the operating temperature of the detector is higher than more conventional silicon detectors and it is more radiation tolerant. These performance improvements and system simplifications will enable a ~4 meter medium class ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopic and imaging mission that is of the highest scientific priority for NASA.

Project Details The detector array under development uses our innovative growth techniques to reduce the defects in the material that are associated with high noise, breakdown, and low QE. We will combine our high quality material, with robust avalanche photodiode (APD) design for reduced noise operation, with our unique III-N processing technology and substrate removal, to optimize the efficiency, noise, and uniformity of the APD arrays.

We are also developing other III-N FPAs and photocathodes.

Responsibilities Successful candidate will develop processing, fabrication, and characterization techniques in various projects for solar blind UV detectors and particle detectors supported by NASA and DoD. Will interact with collaborators at JPL, University of South Carolina, SUNY-Albany, and other institutions. Will work in a team environment for UV detector development and will contribute to team’s expansion into new directions. Will publish results in technical refereed journals and present results in technical conferences.

Location Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Field of Science Technology Development

Advisors Shouleh Nikzad
shouleh.nikzada.gov

Eligibility Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree.

Questions About this opportunity? Please email npp

Point of Contact Mikeala