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Research Intern, Thin Films

Periodic Labs· Science
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Menlo Park, CAInternPosted 4mo ago

About the role

Hands-on research internship focused on cleanroom-based microfabrication and thin-film processes to support Periodic Labs’ AI-driven materials discovery efforts. Prepare substrates, execute lithography, deposition, and etch steps, collect high-quality experimental data for AI training, and collaborate with AI, materials science, and automation teams.

Responsibilities

  • Execute hands-on nanofabrication processes for silicon-based microelectronic, photonic, MEMS, or optical devices, including lithography, thin-film deposition, etch, substrate preparation, and related cleanroom workflows.
  • Support lithography processes such as 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, PECVD, or related techniques.
  • Run or assist with etch processes such as wet etching, plasma etching, RIE, ICP-RIE, or other dry etch workflows.
  • Prepare substrates, manage process flows, track samples, and maintain detailed experimental records that meet the metadata and data quality standards required for AI training.
  • Perform basic structural, optical, electrical, or morphological characterization, potentially including profilometry, ellipsometry, SEM, optical microscopy, XRD/XRR, 4-point probe, or related metrology.
  • Work with senior scientists and engineers to troubleshoot process issues, identify failure modes, and iterate on recipes or workflows.
  • Collaborate with materials science, AI, and automation teams to connect fabrication results with model predictions and experimental planning.
  • Follow rigorous laboratory safety and facility protocols, including those required by external shared cleanroom facilities.

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 related field.
  • 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 while escalating issues appropriately and learning from senior team members.

Skills

Required:Cleanroom microfabricationLithographyThin-film depositionEtching (RIE/ICP-RIE, wet etch)Documentation
Nice to have:Characterization

Benefits

  • Compensation: Competitive and based on experience.
  • Visa sponsorship: We sponsor visas and will assist with the process.
Last updated Sep 16, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Periodic Labs

From bits to atoms.

Periodic Labs is an artificial intelligence research company pioneering the next leap in scientific discovery. We operate at the intersection of machine learning and scientific experimentation under the thesis that that true understanding of the universe is only possible by interacting and experimenting on it.

artificial intelligencescientific discoverymachine learningscientific experimentation
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