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Bryce Primavera’s experience in CU’s Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was instrumental in preparing him for his future career. From starting research through PREP fresh out of undergrad, to completing his PhD, Primavera is now employed as a postdoctoral researcher at NIST. Learn more about his journey, his research focus at NIST, and advice for future PREP students.

Summer research paves the way

Primavera’s experience with PREP began the summer after earning his bachelor’s degree, in the joint Quantum Nanophotonics and Faint Photonics groups at NIST led by Rich Mirin and Sae Woo Nam. His research advisor at NIST was Staff Scientist Jeff Shainline. Primavera started pursuing his PhD in physics at CU Boulder, and soon resumed research in the group at NIST as a PREP graduate student in 2019. 

Focusing on research

Primavera’s research at NIST focused on superconducting optoelectronic neuromorphic computing. “The field of neuromorphic computing strives to create hardware for artificial intelligence inspired by the neural architecture seen in biological organisms,” explained Primavera. 

By emulating how the brain works, this technology will vastly improve the performance and efficiency of artificial intelligence systems. There are many approaches to this, but the method employed by NIST using superconducting single-photon detectors appears capable of creating neural-like networks on a massive scale, while operating much faster than the human brain. 

“The superconducting single-photon detectors developed at NIST are promising for creating ultra-low power optical interconnects that could enable massively scalable networks of optoelectronic neurons,” said Primavera.

The majority of Primavera’s PhD research focused specifically on the design and testing of synaptic circuits. He investigated circuits combining single-photon detectors with devices called Josephson Junctions (JJs) which operate similarly to transistors in superconducting electronics. 

“NIST is currently one of the only places in the world where single-photon detectors can be fabricated on the same chip as JJs,” said Primavera. “With this capability, we were able to create programmable artificial synapses that could process signals as low as an individual photon.”

‘Instrumental’ preparation leads to postdoc

After completing his PhD in physics in 2023, Primavera accepted a postdoctoral position at NIST, continuing research on circuits combining JJs with single-photon detectors. His focus has expanded from neuromorphic computing to include other applications of the circuits and the fabrication process. “Two of the most exciting areas are using JJs to support the scaling of large arrays of superconducting single-photon detectors and designing circuits to extract additional information from the detector responses.”

“The most valuable aspect of PREP for me has been the interactions with NIST staff,” said Primavera. He credits support and mentorship from his advisor in addition to connections with many other role models at NIST. “PREP provides the opportunity to observe and learn from many different people who have already established successful careers. Such an environment also builds confidence that you too can have a fruitful career in research.”

Through the unique environment at NIST spanning the intersection of academia, government, and industry, Primavera gained an important perspective on potential career paths. “PREP was instrumental in preparing me for my career. I had the opportunity to develop skills as an experimental physicist at a world-class institution surrounded by a terrific group of people,” said Primavera. 

Advice for future PREP students

Primavera recommends students considering PREP explore the different research groups and reach out to staff they may be interested in working with. His summer research experience through PREP demonstrated the dynamic nature of research at NIST. “A summer position is a great low-commitment way to try things out,” he said.

The Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) is a special partnership between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and CU Boulder. PREP provides research opportunities to CU undergraduate and graduate students, as well as researchers with a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in NIST labs to gain research experience alongside NIST scientists.