Printed MOx Sensor Fabrication Intern (Piezo/Inkjet Printing & Ink Optimization)

Job Description:

Job Description

Bosch Research is seeking an intern to support development of printed metal-oxide (MOx) sensing materials for gas sensing. The intern will help establish a reliable fabrication workflow for piezo dispensing / inkjet printing of MOx inks on small substrates and MEMS-based sensor chips, with emphasis on print quality, repeatability, and process documentation.
In this role, you will:
* Operate and develop procedures for piezo or inkjet deposition of MOx inks on small substrates/MEMS chips.
* Assist in ink formulation optimization (solvent/binder/dispersant, solids loading, filtration, stability) in collaboration with UC Berkeley partners.
* Develop and document printing process parameters (pattern design, drop spacing, frequency/voltage, passes, substrate mounting, drying/curing steps, and inspection/QC).
* Characterize and improve print outcomes (e.g., uniformity, line/feature fidelity, thickness control, defect reduction, nozzle health/maintenance, yield tracking).
* Support basic characterization/inspection (optical microscopy, profilometry if available, contact angle/wetting observations; simple image-based metrics).
* Support experimental logistics and coordination for occasional work at Stanford (SNF) and UC Berkeley (e.g., tool access, sample transport, on-site runs as needed).
* Maintain organized experimental records and deliver clear "runbooks" (SOP-style documentation) to improve repeatability and transferability of the printing workflow.
The internship emphasizes hands-on lab work, process development for precision deposition, and collaboration across academic and industry teams

Candidate Requirements:

Qualifications

Required Qualifications
* Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
* Hands-on lab experience with precision deposition and/or coating processes, such as inkjet/piezo dispensing/microarray spotting, thin film/coatings, nanoparticle dispersions, or microfabrication-related processing.
* Strong attention to detail and good experimental hygiene (clean handling, contamination control, documentation).
* Ability to work 100% onsite in Sunnyvale, CA for the duration of the internship.
* Strong communication and teamwork skills; ability to work independently with guidance.
Desired Qualifications
* Experience with inkjet / piezo dispensing / microarray spotting or other precision deposition tools (including parameter optimization and basic tool maintenance).
* Experience with nanoparticle ink formulation (dispersion stability, rheology/viscosity, filtration, surfactants/binders; basic troubleshooting like nozzle clogging).
* Familiarity with wetting/surface energy, contact angle, drying/coffee-ring effects, and simple strategies to improve uniformity.
* Experience with microscopy/inspection and quantitative evaluation of prints (image analysis, thickness/feature measurements; profilometry a plus).
* Comfort analyzing and plotting data in Python/Excel (nice to have).
* Familiarity with basic Design of Experiments (DOE) or structured parameter sweeps (nice to have)