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Postdoctoral Appointee-Terahertz Cavity Antiferromagnonics

Argonne National Laboratory · Lemont, IL · $72,879–$121,465 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 22, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about the hardest experimental setup you've built. What would you do differently?

What they are checking: Whether they have real hands-on skills and learn from building complex setups.

Tell me about a time you shared research with an audience outside your specialty.

What they are checking: Whether they can explain new physics to people from microelectronics or communications backgrounds.

What would you do

Your measurement inside the cryogenic superconducting magnet shows no coupling at all. How do you troubleshoot?

What they are checking: Whether they can systematically check the resonator, the film and the setup.

This is an emerging field with few established methods. How do you decide what to try first?

What they are checking: Whether they can make good decisions without a clear playbook.

About the work

Why do antiferromagnets have magnon modes in the terahertz range, and why does that matter for information processing?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the basic physics that motivates the whole project.

How would you design and simulate a terahertz coplanar resonator to couple strongly to an antiferromagnetic magnon mode?

What they are checking: Whether they can design resonators with the right frequency, mode volume and loss.

Walk me through growing an epitaxial α-Fe2O3 or NiO film by magnetron sputtering. What would you control most carefully?

What they are checking: Whether they have hands-on thin film growth experience and know what affects film quality and damping.

How would you set up a free-space terahertz experiment to see coupling between the cavity and the magnon?

What they are checking: Whether they can build terahertz optics setups and know what signatures to look for.

How would you tell strong coupling apart from two modes that just happen to cross?

What they are checking: Whether they understand anticrossing, linewidths and the criteria for strong coupling.

How do you characterize magnetic damping in your films, and why does low damping matter here?

What they are checking: Whether they understand why damping limits coherent spin dynamics.

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The full job description

As published by Argonne National Laboratory.

The Materials Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory invites applications for a postdoctoral appointment in the emerging field of terahertz cavity antiferromagnonics. The successful candidate will focus on developing terahertz cavity-magnonics platforms based on low-damping antiferromagnetic oxides, with an emphasis on controlling and coupling antiferromagnetic spin excitations using engineered terahertz electromagnetic environments. The broader goal of this project is to establish a new solid-state terahertz circuit system that exploits coherent spin dynamics and light-matter interaction for next-generation information processing, microelectronics, wireless communication, and quantum information science. Key Responsibilities: • Develop terahertz coplanar resonators, including design, simulation, fabrication, and terahertz characterizations of the resonators. • Set up terahertz and optical free-space experiments for the terahertz cavity and antiferromagnetic oxides, including thin films and bulk crystals. • Grow epitaxial antiferromagnetic oxide thin films, such as α-Fe2O3, Cr2O3, NiO, using magnetron sputtering system. • Build and measure cavity coupling with antiferromagnetic magnon modes in a cryogenic superconducting electromagnet. This position description documents the general nature and level of work but is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all activities, duties and responsibilities required of job incumbent. Consequently, job incumbent may be required to perform other duties as assigned. Position Requirements • Ph.D degree in the field of Condensed Matter Physics, AMO physics, Electrical Engineering, and Materials Science Engineering, or a closely related discipline. • Demonstrated experience in terahertz generation and characterization, free-space optic experiments, antiferromagnetic spintronics, or cavity spintronics. • Proficiency in scientific software development (e.g., Python, COMSOL, HFSS). • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment. • Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork Preferred skills: • Microwave circuit design, terahertz optics, and their characterization. • Knowledge about near-field resonators, such as split-ring resonator and spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) resonators. • Electromagnetic simulation for terahertz resonator design, such as COMSOL and HFSS. • Experience with cryogenic measurements, optical cryostat, and superconducting magnetic experience. • Knowledge about hybrid dynamic systems and cavity-enhanced light-matter interaction. • Hands-on experience in thin film growth and characterization. Job Family Postdoctoral Job Profile Postdoctoral Appointee Worker Type Long-Term (Fixed Term) Time Type Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $72,879.00-$121,465.00. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. 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, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package. Click here to view Argonne employee benefits! As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law. Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department. All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.

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