2027 Summer Intern - Physicist/Scientist (PhD)
Applied MaterialsJob Title
2027 Summer Intern - Physicist/Scientist (PhD)
Role Summary
Join the Silicon Product Group to support research and development of next-generation plasma processing tools. Work with engineering teams to develop and validate plasma, surface-interaction, and feature-scale models, perform simulations, and apply machine learning to accelerate process and product design.
Position is on-site in Santa Clara, CA; travel is approximately 10% and relocation is eligible.
Experience Level
Entry-level internship for PhD students. This role is intended for candidates currently enrolled in a doctoral program; prior professional experience is not required.
Responsibilities
Interns will work on directed R&D projects and contribute to modeling, simulation, and analysis efforts.
- Design and analyze plasma processing systems and experiments.
- Perform molecular dynamics and other atomic-scale simulations for plasma–surface interactions.
- Develop and extend plasma and feature-scale modeling capabilities.
- Apply plasma and surface physics models to interpret etch and deposition experiments.
- Explore and apply machine learning methods to accelerate model development and use.
- Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams and communicate results.
Requirements
Key technical skills and attributes required for successful contribution to projects.
- Proficiency in computational physics or related simulation methods (e.g., molecular dynamics, density functional theory).
- Knowledge of plasma physics, plasma chemistry, surface physics, reacting flows, or fluid dynamics.
- Familiarity with or willingness to learn machine learning techniques for modeling workflows.
- Strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and ability to learn quickly.
- Ability to work on-site in Santa Clara and travel approximately 10% as needed.
Education Requirements
Must be actively pursuing a Ph.D. in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or a related field. Candidates should be in good academic standing; the posting specifies a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
About the Company
Company: Applied Materials
Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA, United States
Global leader in materials engineering solutions for the semiconductor and display industries, designing, manufacturing, and servicing equipment used to produce chips and advanced displays worldwide. Enables customers' production of semiconductor devices and display technologies and supports innovations like AI and IoT.
