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 self motivated candidate to work as a postdoctoral research associate on this beamline. Research will be primarily involved in looking at magnetic disorder in rare earth and exchange biased systems with the new RASOR soft X-ray diffractometer. This research will be complemented by doing X-ray circular dichroism measurements with the high field magnet (due for delivery early 2011). You will be expected to support users and beamline activities. You will also be expected to form collaborations with outside institutions.

Beamline I10, the Beamline for Advanced Dichroism Experiments (BLADE) is a beamline optimised for the measurement of magnetism. It will have flexible polarisation (linear and circular light) and will operate in the soft X-ray range from 400 to 2000eV. It will thus be sensitive to the transition metal L2,3 edges and rare earth M4,5 edges. There are two main branches: one branch will be dedicated to magnetic scattering and the other to measuring magnetic circular and linear dichroism.

Duties - To work within the I10 team to undertake research. You will be expected to devote 20% of your time to support the I10 beamline, fulfilling duties such as acting as local contact, taking part in beamline development projects and discussing experiment and data analysis with outside Users.

Work in the I10 team in the following areas:

• carrying out in-house research activities;
• carrying out experiments, analysing data and publication of results;
• maintenance of the beamline during operations;
• development and testing of new equipment and software;
• support of users in performing their experiments at Diamond;
• testing of samples sent to Diamond by users;
• assisting users with data analysis;
• keeping up with latest results and research directions internationally;
• developing experimental and data analysis techniques and implementing them on the beamline.

• Appropriate First Degree;
• Postgraduate degree;
• Good laboratory research skills;
• Ability to write research papers;
• Ability to plan and then carry out a research project;
• Good Problem solving skills;
• Fault diagnosis abilities;
• 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 as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
• Self motivated;
• Must be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, including overnight absences.

• Relevant synchrotron research experience;
• Experience or knowledge of synchrotrons;
• Experience of beamline instrumentation;
• Knowledge of magnetism and magnetic materials;
• Experience with ultrahigh vacuum;
• Experience with cryogenics;
• Experience with soft X-ray scattering;
• Experience with high magnetic fields.

Must be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, including overnight absences.