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Job Title Beamline Scientist / Senior Beamline Scientist, BLI13
Job Reference DIA1096/TH
Post Type Full time / permanent
Division Physical Science
Salary information Circa £33k or circa £42k for appointment at the senior level
Application deadline 13/12/2015
Date of interviews 13/01/2016


Job Description

Diamond Light Source is seeking for a motivated beamline scientist to help develop advanced imaging at the I13 beamline in collaboration with Manchester University. You will work in a dynamic team in a rapidly developing field and opportunities for science and collaboration. 

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. Located at Harwell Science & Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, we enable world-leading research across a wide range of scientific disciplines and industrial applications.

Beamline I13 is dedicated to imaging and coherence and has been operational since October 2011. The two independently operating beamline branches provide facilities for imaging in real (X-ray microscopy; absorption, phase contrast and ultrafast tomography) and reciprocal space (coherent X-ray diffraction/imaging).

This post will be centred on the Diamond-Manchester Imaging branchline. Micro- and nano-structured materials from diverse scientific fields such as biology, materials and earth science are studied in the energy range of 8-30keV. New instrumentation for high-resolution microscopy is currently being developed, most recently a full-field microscope with a large field of view. The beamline team closely collaborates with Manchester University who co-fund the beamline project. Manchester University have co-located academics and PDRA’s at the Manchester’s X-ray Imaging Facility (MXIF) at Harwell and Diamond to stimulate the interaction. The collaboration provides opportunities to further develop the scientific profile of the candidate. As part of the I13 beamline team, the successful candidate will contribute to joint efforts on the coherence branchline as well.

We require a Scientist / Senior Scientist with experience in synchrotron based imaging and tomography. A solid knowledge about X-ray full-field microscopy is desirable. Candidates with experience in neighbouring fields such as electron microscopy, neutron imaging or similar are welcome. The successful candidate will be involved in promoting the beamline’s scientific profile. You will be highly motivated, able to work independently with experience of managing staff.

For appointment at the senior level, you will have significant synchrotron imaging/full-field microscopy experience.

Working in support of the Principal Beamline Scientist in the following areas:

  • Continued commissioning and further optimisation of the beamline;
  • Local contact support to users (and in particular the Manchester collaboration) by setting up and providing advice and guidance on the best approach to experiments, data analysis and research techniques;
  • To further the collaboration with Manchester via engaging in joint research projects, co-supervision of students, and helping develop new techniques / environmental stages;
  • Carry out own research in an area relevant to the beamline and collaboration and disseminate through publications and presentations;
  • Assist in the development of new equipment on the beamline, including testing and commissioning.

Additional duties for appointment at Senior level:

  • Enhance the operation of the facility by collaboration and dissemination of specialist knowledge with the other Diamond staff and users, and in particular, the University of Manchester;
  • Take the lead in the design, procurement, installation and commissioning of significant beamline components, co-ordinating internal and external resources;
  • Develop own research/technical expertise to become internationally recognised through publications and presentations for own work in an area relevant to beamline. 

Qualification & Experience - Essential

  • Appropriate first degree or equivalent qualification;
  • PhD in appropriate subject;
  • Relevant synchrotron research experience;
  • Experience or knowledge of synchrotrons;
  • Experience of beamline instrumentation;
  • Notions about coherence, microscopy, imaging or tomography;
  • Experience of software packages and programming;
  • Project management experience;
  • Successful scientific publication record;
  • Ability and initiative to get to the heart of the problem and take it effectively through to completion;
  • Good interpersonal, communication  and presentational skills;
  • Ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels;
  • Ability to work flexibly with occasional weekend and out-of hours working;
  • Self motivated;
  • Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
  • Must be available to travel occasionally in UK and overseas locations including overnight absences.

For appointment at the senior level, candidates will have significant expertise of synchrotron imaging.

 

Qualification & Experience - Desirable

All of the criteria below are essential for appointment at the senior level.

  • Experience of beamline design and construction or commissioning, or experience from relevant fields such as laser physics or electron microscopy;
  • Experience in imaging/tomography data analysis, including reconstruction techniques;
  • Experience in specialist techniques such as phase contrast imaging or XANES tomography;
  • Experience of managing a beamline for users;
  • Ability to manage a small team;
  • Project management experience.

Further Information

  • Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
  • Must be available to travel occasionally in UK and overseas locations including overnight absences.

Applying for employment

For further details on applying for employment at Diamond, please visit our 'Application Form' page.

Appointments will be made depending on the skills and experience of the candidate. Electronic Diamond application forms in MS-Word are preferred. These should be emailed to recruitment@diamond.ac.uk



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