This vacancy is now closed
Job Title Support Scientist / Senior Support Scientist, Beamline I09
Job Reference DIA0614/TH
Post Type
Division Science
Salary information Circa £25K. Circa £30k for appointment at the senior level.
Application deadline 20/05/2011


Job Description

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

A permanent position for a support scientist/senior support scientist is currently available at the Surface and Interface Structural Analysis beamline (I09) at Diamond Light Source. The beamline is presently in its design/construction phase and is scheduled for the installation to start in Ausgust 2011 and for its first user experiment in October 2012. It will provide undulator radiation of both soft (150 - 2100 eV) and hard (2.1 - 20 keV) x-rays for a wide range of experiments applying photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray standing waves, near edge x-ray absorption fine structure, photoelectron diffraction, and x-ray reflectivity. The research activities will be focused on the studies of structural, chemical and electronic properties of surfaces, interfaces and thin films.

We are seeking a highly motivated support scientist/senior support scientist to assist the users with their experiments, to maintain the beamline during operations, and to develop and test new equipment and software. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in physics, physical chemistry, materials science or related fields with knowledge and experience in synchrotron radiation and ultra-high vacuum techniques. Additional experience in surface science research is desirable.

Scientific support to designated beam lines and the user operation programme.

Support Scientist

  • Assist in the development, assembly, installation, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamline, end-stations and support laboratories, including testing and commissioning;
  • Assist in developing and commissioning sample environment equipment;
  • Assist in developing and commissioning data acquisition and data analysis software;
  • Provide support to users, answering queries and ensuring they are fully briefed to use the appropriate equipment;
  • Undertake problem solving and fault diagnosis of complex instrumentation, eg the beamline end-station;
  • Technical support of in-house research activities;
  • Management of beamline peripheral laboratories where appropriate;
  • Produce documentation for external users to enable use of standard laboratory instrumentation;
  • Co-ordinate meetings, documents, reports and communications.

Senior Support Scientist

  • Assist in the development, assembly, installation, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamline, end-stations and support laboratories, including testing and commissioning;
  • Assist in developing and commissioning sample environment equipment;
  • Assist in developing and commissioning data acquisition and data analysis software;
  • Local contact support to users by setting up and providing advice and guidance on the best approach to experiments, data analysis and research techniques;
  • Measurement of samples including data analysis and contributing to publications;
  • Undertake problem solving and fault diagnosis of the beamline;
  • Develop and maintain expertise in a scientific field, and apply it to user support;
  • Work closely with other scientific and technical staff to produce designs for  new systems, equipment or processes;
  • Collaborate with users and in house staff research within area of expertise;
  • Contribute to scientific papers from external or in-house research;
  • Presentation of beamline developments and scientific papers at meetings and conferences;
  • Produce reports and documentation (e.g. manuals) to support the beamline and laboratories.

Qualification & Experience - Essential

  • Ph.D. in physics, physical chemistry, materials science or related fields; 
  • Experience in the use of scientific instrumentation;
  • Experience in scientific data collection;
  • Knowledge of synchrotron radiation techniques;
  • Experience in laboratory work;
  • Experience with Windows/ Linux/Unix;
  • Experience in the use of ultra-high vacuum equipment;
  • Good interpersonal, communication and presentational skills;
  • Ability to interact with staff and facility users at all levels;
  • Ability to work flexibly with occasional weekend and out-of hours working;
  • 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;
  • Self motivation;
  • Must be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, including overnight absences.

For appointment at the senior / higher level, candidates will have a PhD and three years relevant experience.

Qualification & Experience - Desirable

  • Experience in synchrotron radiation research;
  • Experience in the surface science research;
  • Experience in surface/thin film preparation and characterization;
  • Experience in programming;
  • Experience in or knowledge of photoelectron spectroscopy.

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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