Job Posting
Director, Quantum Physics and Optics Research Lab
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Thomas Jefferson High School, located in Fairfax Virginia, is seeking a part time Director of the Quantum Physics and Optics Research
Lab beginning in the Fall of 2015. The position is a one-year appointment that is renewable. We are seeking exceptional individuals
with demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, and support of student research projects. Our school is committed to
attracting and supporting an academically and culturally diverse faculty who can work in collaboration with other research lab directors
and members of the Physics Department to further student research and scholarship.
The main responsibility of the lab director is to mentor approximately 15 high school seniors through yearlong research projects in the
field of Experimental or Theoretical Quantum Physics, Optics, Computational Physics, and Materials Sciences. Recent and current
research projects include characterizing vapor deposited surface crystals, optical properties of coatings, design and testing of signal
hopping algorithms, generation and characterization of entangled photons by down conversion, studies of a variety of self organizing
systems, dynamical systems simulation and analysis of biological structures, surface nano-structure characterization by atomic force
microscopy, building a vapor trail video collector and categorizer for a large scale diffusion cloud chamber, building a optical quantum
eraser experiment, and direct measurement of fundamental constants including the speed of light and Planck’s constant. Students are
encouraged to bring research and engineering projects to the lab from across the physical sciences. Successful applicants are
encouraged to establish additional physics related research opportunities for students related to the directors’ knowledge and
experience. The lab has a yearly operating budget in excess of $10,000 / yr. and the lab director is encouraged to develop
collaborations with local research labs to leverage resources.
The research facilities at the school are exceptional for a high school, and more closely resemble undergraduate institutions.
Dedicated lab facilities includes multiple research grade optical benches, lasers, and optical elements, atomic force microscopes, x-ray
scattering and imaging equipment, vapor deposition and sputter coating capability, desktop NMR and SEM, sensitive single photon
detectors, substantial computing and simulation hardware and software, and additional supporting electronic and physical supporting
technologies.
Additional responsibilities include the teaching of a general education, semester long introduction to Optics course, and organization
and maintenance of the lab facilities. The optics course is intended to provide students with an introduction to electromagnetic wave
behavior in the Microwave and Visible spectra exclusively via hands on experimentation and active learning. Successful applicants
would also be encouraged to develop additional elective courses that would prepare students to be successful in the research lab
particularly if new directions of research were established. The teaching of this course is done with the support of other members of
the TJHSST Physics department and/or other research lab directors.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is a public, specialized high school that serves six participating school
districts of Northern Virginia and focuses on developing future STEM researchers. TJHSST has historically attracted many of the most
gifted STEM students in the region and the school has traditionally been ranked as one of the top high schools in the nation. All
students must complete a yearlong senior research project as a graduation requirement. To support this mandate the school
maintains 14 senior research labs ranging in focus from Biotechnology, Neuroscience, Chemical Analysis, and Astronomy to Robotics,
Prototyping, Mobile and Web App Development and Micro Electronics. The school is managed by Fairfax County, however is
considered a Governors school for the state of Virginia, which provides additional funding to promote student research. More
information about the school and its mission can be found on the school website www.tjhsst.edu.
Required Skills
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Masters Degree in Physics or related field
Experience conducting and mentoring others through long term scientific research projects
State of Virginia Teaching License (provisional licensure can be granted)
Preferred Skills
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PhD in Physics or related field
A record of peer reviewed research
Application Procedures and Timeline
Interested applicants should email a cover letter, CV, and references to Dr. Evan Glazer, Principal at [email protected].