Research Intern, Thin Films

The role

This person will support process development and experimental execution to build internal thin-film and nanofabrication capabilities. They will execute nanofabrication processes and generate experimental data for an AI training pipeline.

What you will do

• Execute hands-on nanofabrication processes for silicon-based devices.
• Support lithography processes including spin coating, baking, mask alignment, exposure, development, lift-off, and optical inspection.
• Operate or support thin-film deposition processes such as sputtering, evaporation, PVD, PLD, ALD, or PECVD.
• Run or assist with etch processes such as wet etching, plasma etching, RIE, or ICP-RIE.
• Prepare substrates, manage process flows, track samples, and maintain detailed experimental records.
• Perform basic structural, optical, electrical, or morphological characterization.
• Work with senior scientists and engineers to troubleshoot process issues and iterate on recipes.
• Collaborate with materials science, AI, and automation teams.
• Follow laboratory safety and facility protocols.

Required qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in electrical engineering, materials science, applied physics, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, or a rel
• Hands-on experience in a university cleanroom, nanofabrication facility, semiconductor lab, photonics lab, MEMS lab, or related research environment.
• Practical exposure to lithography, deposition, and etch processes.
• Experience working with silicon-based microelectronic, photonic, MEMS, optical, or semiconductor devices.
• Comfort spending real time at tools, following cleanroom protocols, logging process details, and learning new equipment quickly.
• Strong documentation habits and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently in shared research facilities.

Nice to have

• Experience with full or partial device fabrication flows involving lithography, deposition, etch, and characterization.
• Hands-on experience with specific tools or techniques such as mask aligners, spin coaters, sputtering, evaporation, ALD, PECVD, RIE, ICP-RIE, profilometry, ellipsometry, SEM, or 4-point probe.
• Experience fabricating silicon photonics, MEMS, optoelectronic devices, sensors, thin-film devices, or other micro/nanoscale structures.
• Experience working in shared cleanroom environments, including completing facility-specific safety training, navigating tool reservation systems, and operating within shared-use norms.
• Exposure to functional materials in thin-film or device form, including oxides, nitrides, metals, semiconductors, superconductors, magnetics, ferroelectrics, or multilayer stacks.
• Interest in working at the intersection of experimental science, nanofabrication, and AI-driven discovery.

Before you apply

• We sponsor visas and will do everything we can to assist in this process with our legal support.

About the company

Periodic Labs is an AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs across materials, energy, and beyond.