Work with SID

Research in SID

Find out more about the type of research that we're doing in SID.

Collaboration opportunities

SID offers many research opportunities for engineers and data scientists who share our interest in standards and measurement science.

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Research in SID

Overview

Types of researchers

Researchers at NIST are divided into federal employees and research associates, who collaborate with NIST staff and access user facilities. Below are current opportunities for both types of researcher. You can find other opportunities for for federal job opportunities through the NIST-wide job board. SID participates in many NIST-wide opportunities for research associates, too; find out more here.

About NIST

NIST is an agency of the Department of Commerce. Our mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. NIST is the world's leader in creating critical measurement solutions and promoting equitable standards. NIST's strongly held values of perseverance, integrity, inclusivity and excellence are reflected both in our history and our current work. NIST leadership and staff will uphold these values to ensure an innovative and collaborative environment that is safe and respectful of all.

About EL

Advanced Manufacturing technologies are revolutionizing manufacturing practices globally. Advanced Manufacturing refers to the growing integration of cyber systems (e.g., databases, software) and physical systems (e.g., machine tools, robots) in production. The result is increased ability to support automation of electronic commerce and supply chain integration. Advanced Manufacturing is one of EL’s top priorities. EL performs research to ensure that new technologies (e.g., AI, wireless and 5G, sensing, data governance, 3D printing, robotics, cybersecurity, etc.) can be deployed in sound and reliable ways through standards and measurement techniques.

Advanced and sustainable manufacturing technologies

Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing technologies are revolutionizing manufacturing practices globally. NIST is the US government agency charged with helping manufacturers deploy these new technologies. EL performs the scientific research to ensure the technologies can be deployed in sound and reliable ways through standards and measurement techniques. Advanced Manufacturing is one of EL’s top priority goals. Alternatively described as “Industry 4.0” or the “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Advanced Manufacturing refers to the increasing integration of cyber systems (e.g., databases, software) and physical systems (e.g., machine tools, robots) in production. The result is the growth in capabilities to support automation of electronic commerce and supply chain integration—foundations which will be necessary to foster a Circular Economy. An understanding emerging technologies surrounding this revolution (e.g., AI, wireless and 5G, sensing, data governance, 3D printing, robotics, cybersecurity, etc.) and their intersection with U.S. manufacturing (the role of technical standards) is important to facilitating this research.

Research Topics

The Systems Integration Division is part of NIST’s Engineering Laboratory advanced manufacturing thrust. Topics related to our work include:

Digital Twin

Digital twins enable manufacturers to represent, diagnose, predict, and optimize their operations. However, there are significant challenges for manufacturers—especially small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs)—to implement digital twin applications correctly and effectively. SID is providing technical contributions to help manufacturers systematically build their digital twins.

Manufacturing in a Circular Economy

The circular economy vision is challenging manufacturers to rethink how they design, produce, and ship products away from the old way of the linear economy (take, make, waste) to a more regenerative process. SID is working to create more and better data to create manufacturing systems that are optimized to be less resource intensive, have less impact on the environment, and more flexible to adjust to changing designs and material streams.

Collaboration opportunities

SID supports collaborative opportunities through the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP), Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP), and Graduate Student Measurement Science and Engineering (GMSE). 

The Engineering Lab, which SID is part of, also has plenty of exciting opportunities for early career scientists to highly experienced researchers, from inside and outside of the US. Find out more here.