Dear Colleague Letter - The Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) – Employment Opportunity for Program Director

February 27, 2009

Dear Colleagues,

The Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) within the Directorate of Engineering at the National Science Foundation, announces a nationwide search for a senior-level engineering researcher to serve as Program Director in the Electronics, Photonics and Device Technologies (EPDT) program.  The desired starting date for the position is summer 2009.

Formal consideration of interested applicants will begin April 15, 2009 and the position will remain open until filled.

The ECCS Division addresses fundamental research issues underlying component and device technologies, power and energy, controls, computation, networks, communications and cyber technologies, and supports the integration and networking of complex intelligent systems principles at the nano, micro, and macro scales for a variety of application domains in healthcare, energy, communications, critical infrastructures, environment, homeland security, transportation, and manufacturing.

The Division is organized around three programs: (i) Electronics, Photonics and Device Technologies (EPDT); (ii) Power, Controls and Adaptive Networks (PCAN); and (iii) Integrative, Hybrid and Complex Systems (HCS).  The management of these programs involves a team approach by Program Directors within the Division to reflect the increasing convergence of disciplinary topics and the need for interdisciplinary approaches to new problems areas. ECCS has a continuing goal to integrate education into all of its program activities.  For further information, please visit the ECCS web site at
http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?org=ECCS.

The Program Director opportunity within the EPDT program requires an individual with broad expertise and demonstrated experience to address emerging research areas of nanoelectronics and advanced integrated circuits at the concept, design, material, and device levels, including molecular, quantum and bio related aspects. Knowledge of photonics and chip-level integration of photonics with electronics is also desired.

NSF Program Directors bears the primary responsibility for carrying out the Agency’s overall mission to support innovative and merit-evaluated activities in fundamental research and education that contribute to the nation’s technological strength, security, and welfare.  This requires knowledge in the appropriate disciplines as well as a commitment to high standards, considerable breadth of interest and receptivity to new ideas, strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity.  The position provides a challenging experience and an excellent opportunity to encourage and support engineering research and education.  The individual will work with other Program Directors in formulating research strategies, developing cooperation among government, academia and industry, fostering outreach to underrepresented groups, and providing leadership within NSF and the research community.  Desirable attributes are knowledge of the general scientific and engineering communities and strong skills in written and oral communication.  The position requires a Ph.D. degree, or equivalent, in a relevant field with a minimum of six years of academic, government, or industrial experience.

The Program Director position recruited under this announcement may be filled under the following rotational appointment option for a period of one year and may be extended for an additional one or two years by mutual agreement:

Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Assignment. Individuals eligible for an IPA
assignment with a Federal agency include employees of state and local government agencies or institutions of higher education, Indian tribal governments, and other eligible organizations in instances where such assignments would be of mutual benefit to the organizations involved. The individual remains an employee of the home institution and NSF provides funding toward the assignee’s salary and benefits. Initial IPA assignments are made for a one-year period and may be extended by mutual agreement for up to two additional years.

Visiting Scientist Engineering Educator. Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. A Visiting Scientist is on non-paid leave status from the home institution and appointed to NSF’s payroll as a Federal employee. NSF withholds Social Security taxes and pays the home institution’s contributions to maintain retirement and fringe benefits (i.e. health benefits and life insurance), either directly to the home institution or to the carrier. Appointments are usually made for up to one year and may be extended by mutual agreement for up to an additional year.

Temporary Excepted Service Appointment. Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. Candidates who do not have civil service status or reinstatement eligibility will not obtain civil service status if selected. Candidates currently in the competitive service will be required to waive competitive civil service rights if selected. Usual civil service benefits (retirement, health benefits, life insurance) are applicable for appointments of more than one year. Temporary appointment may not exceed three years. For additional information on NSF’s rotational programs, please see “Programs for Scientists, Engineers, and Educators” on the NSF website at http://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/.

For additional information on NSF’s rotational programs, please see “Programs for Science, Engineering and Science Education Positions” on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/.

Should you or your colleagues be interested in this position, or wish to nominate suitable candidates, please contact the search committee coordinator, Dr. Pradeep Fulay, (pfulay@nsf.gov), and forward curriculum vitae to him by April 15, 2009.  Formal consideration of applications will begin after the closing date, though the position will remain open until filled. Inquires, applications, and nominations for this Program Director position should be directed to:

Dr. Pradeep Fulay, Program Director, EPDT
Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS)
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 525
Arlington, Virginia  22230
Phone: (703)-292 8339
FAX: (703)-292 9147
Email: pfulay@nsf.gov

Dr. Lawrence Goldberg, Acting Division Director
Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 525
Arlington, VA  22230
Phone: (703)-292 8339
FAX: (703)-292 9147
Email: lgoldberg@nsf.gov

NSF IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO EMPLOYING A
HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION.