This vacancy is now closed
Job Title Scientific Instrumentation Support - Support Scientist
Job Reference DIA0547/TH
Post Type
Division Science
Salary information Circa £26K (depending on skills, qualifications and relevant experience)
Application deadline 26/02/2010
Date of interviews 19/03/2010


Job Description

Diamond Light Source is a new synchrotron and a leading scientific facility of its type in the world. Located on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in South Oxfordshire, we host facilities supporting cutting edge research in all fields of science.

We require a motivated graduate to support the development and maintenance of scientific instrumentation at beamline I04. The role will extend to assisting users of the facility with technical aspects of their experiments as well as participating in the development and testing of new equipment and software. You will have an appropriate qualification, experience in the use of scientific instrumentation and a keen interest in technology development. Experience of macromolecular crystallography and synchrotron radiation techniques would be desirable, but not essential as training will be provided.

I04 is a hard X-ray beamline delivering highly focused X-ray beams for diffraction experiments on macromolecules such as proteins and viruses and is one of a suite of beamlines (currently 5) at Diamond dedicated to this area of research. These beamlines consist of ultra high vacuum equipment, monochromators, X-ray mirrors and slits for X-ray beam conditioning; motors and drive systems under delta tau and EPICs control; cryogenic equipment; microscope and video systems for sample manipulation; large area CCD and solid state detectors; robotic sample changers and, lastly, a comprehensive suite of software which is based on a Jython interface (with scripting) with which the scientist uses to interact with the equipment and perform their experiments. Computing hardware at Diamond is a Linux based environment for data collection and processing.

To provide technical and scientific support to beamline I04 and user programme to ensure the effective use of the Phase 1 macromolecular crystallography beamlines at Diamond.

To assist in the:

  • procurement, installation and commissioning of beamline components and instrumentation;
  • maintenance of the beamlines;
  • development and testing of new equipment and software to upgrade the performance of the beamlines;
  • support of users in performing their experiments at Diamond both on- and off-site;
  • support of in-house research activities;
  • general administrative tasks in support of the beamline. 

Qualification & Experience - Essential

  • Appropriate degree or equivalent qualification or experience;
  • Good interpersonal, communication and presentational skills;
  • Ability to interact with staff and facility users at all levels; 
  • Ability and initiative to get to the heart of the problem and take it effectively through to completion; 
  • Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team; 
  • Ability to work flexibly with occasional weekend and out-of hours; 
  • Self motivation; 
  • Experience with Windows/ Linux/Unix. 

Qualification & Experience - Desirable

  • Experience of instrumentation development and deployment;
  • Experience in macromolecular crystallography data collection and analysis;
  • Experience in using synchrotron beamlines;
  • Experience in laboratory work and crystallisation;
  • Experience in beamline instrumentation and X-ray equipment;
  • Experience in acting in a support role;
  • Experience in programming;
  • Be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, including overnight absences.

Further Information

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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