NIST PREP Research Associate in Quantum Network Architecture and Protocols

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.

Research Title: Quantum Network Architecture and Protocols

U.S. Citizen Preferred

The work will entail: The researcher will contribute to the design and analysis of quantum network protocol stacks and control planes, supported by simulation and emulation tools, to evaluate performance, scalability, and interoperability under realistic noise and decoherence conditions. This work supports high-priority efforts within NIST's Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) to develop frameworks, reference architectures, and technical foundations for emerging quantum networking standards.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Conduct research on quantum network architectures, including control, management, and routing across heterogeneous networks.
• Design and evaluate quantum networking protocols (e.g., entanglement distribution, routing, synchronization, and management).
• Develop and use network simulation and emulation tools to evaluate protocol designs, interfaces, and abstractions.
• Contribute to pre-standardization and standards development activities for quantum networks, including reference models, interfaces, and protocol abstractions.
• Collaborate with experimental teams to incorporate quantum mechanics, noise models, and metrology data into architectural studies.
• Disseminate research results through peer-reviewed publications, standards contributions, and technical presentations.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in computer science, electrical engineering, physics, or a closely related field.
• Strong background in networking and distributed systems, including IP/optical/wireless networks, network simulation and modeling, software-defined networking, and network management.
• Solid understanding of quantum mechanics and quantum information, including light-matter entanglement, quantum hardware, and experimental considerations in quantum communication.
• Experience with research-oriented software development, including:
• Programming in Python and/or Java (additional languages welcome)
• Version control and collaborative workflows (Git)
• Modern development practices (modular design, reproducibility, cloud-native or containerized environments)
• Ability to bridge theory, simulation, and experimental realities in quantum networking research.
• Experience with discrete-event simulators or network modeling frameworks.
• Familiarity with standardization processes or technical working groups.
• U.S. Citizen is preferred.