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.

The Multimode InfraRed Microspectroscopy And Imaging Beamline (MIRIAM) is a state of the art IR facility for molecular microscopy/spectroscopy that provides the highest spatial resolution/sensitivity optically attainable over the full IR range. At MIRIAM, the use of near field methods via Atomic Force/Scanning Probe Microscope is under development to achieve non-diffraction limited IR microspectroscopy and to allow IR mapping of sub-cellular structures ex vivo or in aqueous environments.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Principal Beamline Scientist to ensure the commissioning, smooth operation and development of the Near Field IR microscope via AFM/SPM which will be operated as a 3rd endstation  at MIRIAM. He/She will assists in supporting academic and industrial user research. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute significantly to the internationally competitive in-house research programme in IR ultramicrospectroscopy.

In addition, you will support the MIRIAM Principal Beamline Scientist  in the following areas:

• Commissioning and optimisation of the near field IR microscope;
• Assist in the implementation and testing of the hardware/optics for the 3rd MIRIAM endstation;
• Assist in the development of data acquisition/synchronisation with the IR interferometer, data visualisation and analysis software;
• Assist in the development and upgrade of the MIRIAM beamline as required;
• Participate in the user research support programme through the local contact system, with an emphasis on supporting the 3rd end station;
• Participation in IR research projects at the beamline, including publication of the results and presentation of beamline developments and scientific papers at meetings and conferences;
• Produce reports and documentation (e.g. manuals) to support the MIRIAM beamline and instrumentation.

Additional duties for appointment at Senior level

• Contribute to the development of new hardware/software systems and approaches through identification of possible improvements to the IR ultramicroscope;
• Contribute to the in-house research of MIRIAM with a special emphasis on exploiting the unique characteristics of non-diffraction limited IR microspectroscopy;
• Participate in the implementation of major developments at the beamline.

• Appropriate first degree;
• Experience or knowledge of IR/Raman spectroscopy and/or microscopy; 
• 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;
• Ability to work flexibly with occasional weekend and out-of hours working;
• Must be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, including overnight absences.

• Appropriate PhD degree or equivalent post graduate experience (Essential for appointment at the higher level);
• Experience with synchrotron based IR spectroscopy/microscopy;
• Experience or knowledge of Atomic Force/Scanning Probe Microscopy or ultramicroscopy;
• Experience with Windows/Linux/Unix hardware/software.

For an informal discussion about this vacancy, please email MIRIAM Principal Beamline Scientist Gianfelice Cinque at Gianfelice.cinque@diamond.ac.uk