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.

We are looking to recruit a Support Scientist/Senior Support Scientist, to a position on the Scattering beamline, I22. The principal role for this post will be to facilitate User support during operations but will also involve assisting in the commissioning of optics components and new end station equipment on I22. Candidates should have an appropriate qualification and experience of synchrotron radiation. Experience of Non Crystalline Diffraction / SAXS-WAXS would be and advantage. For appointment at the higher level, candidates should have a Ph.D and relevant experience.

Non Crystalline Diffraction is one of the truly synergistic interdisciplinary sectors within UK science and the wider international arena and I22/B21 serve communities in the biological, medical, physical and environmental science communities. The selected candidate will be encouraged to participate in individual or collaborative research activities on the beamline and elsewhere.

Beamline I22 (Non Crystalline Diffraction) is a high-flux SAXS/WAXS facility that is optimised for both biological and materials science. The beamline uses an in-vacuum undulator to generate X-rays in the range of 3.7-20 keV, and delivers a high photon flux into a focused 75 x 300 µm spot. The modular arrangement of the I22 end station allows a choice between small angle scattering for large scale structures or microfocus illumination, each with a wide angle scattering option for materials studies. Both platforms are designed to host a wide range of purpose designed specialized environment cells.

Senior Support Scientist

The position will be based on the beamline I22. The principal role for the Senior Support Scientist will be User support during operations but will also involve assisting in the commissioning of new equipment for I22. Some commissioning support for B21 will be required. The selected candidate will be encouraged to participate in individual or collaborative research activities on the beamline and elsewhere.

Working with the beamline team in the following areas:

• Procurement, installation, assembly, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamlines and support laboratories, including testing and commissioning;
• Local contact support to users by setting up and providing advice and guidance on the best approach to experiments, data analysis and research techniques;
• To test samples sent to Diamond by users;
• Produce reports and documentation (e.g. manuals) to support the beamlines and laboratories;
• Administrative tasks in support of the SAXS Beamlines;
• Participate in projects to improve and upgrade the facilities provided including software for the users;
• Contribute to in-house research programmes and the publication of the results
  Presentation of beamline developments and scientific papers at meetings and conferences. 

Support Scientist

The position will be based on the beamline I22. The principal role for the Support Scientist will be User support during operations but will also involve assisting in the commissioning of new equipment for I22. Some commissioning support for B21 will be required. The selected candidate will be encouraged to participate in individual or collaborative research activities on the beamline and elsewhere.

Working with the beamline team in the following areas:

• Assist in the procurement, installation, assembly, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamlines and support laboratories, including testing and commissioning;
• Local contact support to users in performing their experiments Diamond;
• To test samples sent to Diamond by users;
• Produce reports and documentation (e.g. manuals) to support the beamlines and laboratories;
• Administrative tasks in support of the SAXS Beamlines;
• Participate in projects to improve and upgrade the facilities provided including software for the users;
• Support of the in-house research activities and the publication of the results.

• Appropriate first degree;
• Experience or knowledge of synchrotron radiation;
• 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 work as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
• Self motivation;
• Must be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, including overnight absences.

• Ph.D and relevant experience; (Essential for appointment at the higher level)
• Experience of Non Crystalline Diffraction/SAXS-WAXS;
• Experience with Windows/Linux/Unix;
• Experience with vacuum systems;
• Experience of beamline instrumentation;
• Knowledge of beamline controls systems and  x-ray optics.