Research Intern Position Periodic Labs is developing AI that can both simulate science and verify its predictions to train on the full scientific method. A central challenge in that mission is connecting materials discovery with real, scalable device-relevant form factors. Materials our AI predicts and our lab synthesizes must ultimately be validated through thin films, patterned structures, and device-relevant process flows for applications across semiconductors, memory, photonics, and advanced materials. We are looking for a hands-on Research Intern with experience in cleanroom-based microfabrication or nanofabrication. This person should have practical exposure to lithography, deposition, and etch processes for silicon-based microelectronic, photonic, MEMS, or optical devices. In this role, you will support process development and experimental execution while contributing to the buildout of Periodic's internal thin-film and nanofabrication capabilities. Your work will help generate high-quality experimental data that feeds directly into our AI training pipeline.
What You'll Do:- 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.
- You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have
- 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. You do not need to be equally deep in every module, but you should understand how these steps connect in a device fabrication flow.
- 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. You record what actually happened in the experiment, not just what was intended.
- Ability to work independently in shared research facilities while escalating issues appropriately and learning from senior team members.
Especially Strong Candidates May Also 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.
Mechanics
Location:
Menlo Park, CA. This role is expected to be on-site, with work taking place at Periodic's lab and external cleanroom facilities in the Bay Area.
Term: Internship / fixed-term position.
Compensation: Competitive and based on experience.
Visa sponsorship:
We sponsor visas and will do everything we can to assist in this process with our legal support.
