Research Scientist - Diamond Synthesis and Device Fabrication

About the role

Temasek Laboratories @ NTU (TL@NTU), a research institute at Nanyang Technological University focused on advanced defense and security technologies, is seeking a Research Scientist to lead device fabrication and electrical characterization of diamond-based semiconductor devices for next-generation defense electronics. The institute has cleanroom facilities, thermal evaporation systems and electrical characterization equipment.

Key responsibilities

• Lead cleanroom fabrication of diamond-based electronic devices, including photolithography, thin film deposition, etching, metallization and device patterning.
• Develop and optimize surface charge transfer doping of hydrogen-terminated diamond by thermal evaporation of transition metal oxide films, including in-situ annealing for 2D hole gas channels.
• Fabricate low-resistance ohmic contacts and develop process flows for integrating diamond into RF FETs and high-power devices.
• Perform electrical characterization (sheet resistance, I-V and C-V, Hall effect, contact resistance, transport properties) and extract device parameters.
• Verify the surface transfer doping mechanism and characterize diamond after deposition to confirm maintained surface conductivity.
• Operate, install and commission the MPCVD reactor and hydrogenation system, and optimize growth protocols for electronic-grade single-crystal diamond.
• Plasma hydrogen-terminate grown crystals and verify hydrogenation effectiveness, including crystal face specificity.
• Characterize materials with Raman spectroscopy, AFM, XRD and SEM, and coordinate safe handling and transport of diamond wafers.
• Maintain fabrication protocols, process and characterization records, and prepare technical reports and presentations.

Required profile

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Applied Physics or a related field, with specialization in semiconductor device fabrication and characterization.
• 2-3 years of relevant experience in cleanroom device fabrication, preferably with wide-bandgap semiconductors or novel electronic materials.
• Proven publication record in device physics or semiconductor technology.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with ability to work independently and across multidisciplinary teams.
• Rigorous adherence to cleanroom protocols, safety procedures and contamination control.

Required skills

• Cleanroom processes: photolithography, thin film deposition (thermal evaporation, sputtering), etching and metallization.
• Electrical characterization: I-V measurements, C-V profiling, Hall effect, device parameter extraction.
• Metal oxide thin film deposition and surface functionalization, ohmic contact formation and contact resistance measurement.
• Device simulation tools and electrical measurement equipment (probe stations, parameter analyzers).
• Experience with diamond, SiC, GaN or other wide-bandgap devices is highly desirable; prior experience with RF, power or high-voltage devices is an advantage.