This vacancy is now closed
Job Title Postdoctoral Research Associate, BLI19
Job Reference 0024/16/TH
Post Type Full time, 3 year fixed term
Division Physical Science
Salary information Circa £34k
Application deadline 20/03/2016
Date of interviews 15/04/2016


Job Description

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.

The position will be based on Beamline I19 at Diamond, which is designed for small-molecule single-crystal diffraction using an intense x-ray beam (5-30 keV) to study the structural properties of materials in detail. The successful applicant will work on this state-of-the art beamline which is designed to study small and weakly diffracting crystals, for time resolved studies, for anomalous dispersion studies and for studies involving complex crystallography. The beamline became operational in October 2008 and has just undergone a major upgrade.

Suitable candidates should be familiar with the principles of synchrotron x-ray single-crystal diffraction, and theyshould have a strong interest in a specific area of materials science, physics, chemistry, earth sciences, engineering and pharmaceuticals. The position will involve some participation in beamline commissioning and development. Experience of single-crystal diffraction instrumentation and methodology, structure solution and refinement is essential.

The successful candidate will participate in individual or collaborative research activities on the beamline, and elsewhere, with the specific remit of developing a research theme involving advanced crystallography techniques such as electron density studies, anomalous dispersion studies or studies involving incommensurate/ modulated structures  - although particularly outstanding candidates with other research interests may be considered. They will assist the beamline staff to maintain the beamline including the end-station, and provide occasional user support. The candidate must be prepared to work flexibly and should be available to carry out occasional out-of-hours duties.

Working with the single-crystal diffraction beamline team in the following areas:

  • participation in in-house research programmes and the publication of the results;
  • occasional support of the research projects of the users, who will come from a diverse scientific background;
  • presentation of  beamline developments and scientific papers at meetings and conferences;
  • assist with the general commissioning of beamline hardware and the development of data acquisition, visualisation and analysis software.

Qualification & Experience - Essential

  • Appropriate First Degree;
  • PhD degree;
  • Experience of single-crystal data analysis (e.g. structure solution and refinement);
  • Ability and initiative to get to the heart of the problem and take it effectively through to completion;
  • Good interpersonal, communication and presentational skills;
  • Good organisational and planning skills;
  • Ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels;
  • Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
  • Must be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, including overnight absences.
     

Qualification & Experience - Desirable

  • Experience of sample environment equipment;
  • Experience of x-ray beamlines;
  • Experience with Windows/Linux/Unix;
  • Experience of programming, especially Python, and Java;
  • Experience or knowledge of synchrotrons;
  • Experience or knowledge of x-ray single-crystal diffraction;
  • Self motivation.

Further Information

  • Must be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, 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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