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Job Title Support Scientist / Senior Support Scientist, DIAD
Job Reference 0026/16/TH
Post Type Full time / permanent
Division Physical Science
Salary information Circa £28k and circa £34k for appointment at the senior level
Application deadline 31/03/2016


Job Description

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

Diamond is currently designing a beamline for combined imaging and diffraction in the medium x-ray energy range which will study materials and processes under a wide range of conditions to link to a variety of scientific fields such as Soft Tissues and Implants, Geology, Palaeontology, Engineering and Material Science, Electrochemistry, and others. Key to successful experiments is sample environment as it provides the external physical conditions and processes for in-situ studies.

For DIAD we will design a sample manipulation with fully integrated sample environment. Your primary task during beamline design phase will be to overlook and take responsibility over the design, installation and commissioning of this important instrument. You will work with mechanical and electrical engineers as well as with control and data-acquisition engineers. Commissioning, maintenance and upgrade of this instrument during beamline operation will also be part of your duties.

The responsibility for a central part of the beamline instrumentation calls for a person with good communicational skills, pro-active in the approach to resolve technical problems and skilled and creative in the field of mechanics and control hardware.
You need to have a proven record in setting up and operating in-situ equipment.

The successful candidate will be working in a world-class facility very closely to staff and external scientists and will be communicating with a team of technicians, engineers and software support teams. A hands-on attitude and a flexible mind are very important to be able to cope with the dynamics of the task. You will be actively working at the beamline, although some office work is required at times.

Support Scientist for DIAD Beamline

  • Participate in the design of beamline equipment;
  • Assist in the installation, assembly, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamline and support laboratories;
  • Participate in beamline testing and commissioning;
  • Liaise with the suppliers of the beamline components;
  • Assist in undertaking problem solving and fault diagnosis of the beamline;
  • Produce reports and documentation (e.g. manuals, web-pages) to support the beamline;
  • Maintain  parts of the beamline during operations;
  • Maintain the support laboratories;
  • Local contact support to users by setting up and providing advice and guidance on the best approach to experiments, data analysis and research techniques;
  • Collaborate with users and in house staff within area of expertise.

Senior Support Scientist for DIAD Beamline

  • Develop new instrumentation and software in collaboration with support teams to upgrade the performance of the beamline, in a self-responsible way;
  • Assist in the installation, assembly, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamline and support laboratories;
  • Participate in beamline testing and commissioning;
  • Maintain  parts of the beamline during operations;
  • Purchase equipment and maintain the support laboratories;
  • Undertake problem solving and fault diagnosis of the beamline;
  • Produce reports and documentation (e.g. manuals, web-pages) to support the beamline;
  • Collaborate with users and in house scientists within area of expertise;
  • Local contact support to users by setting up and providing advice and guidance on the best approach to experiments, data analysis and research techniques;
  • Develop and maintain expertise in a scientific field and apply it to user support;
  • Contribute to scientific publications as part of in-house research or external research.

Qualification & Experience - Essential

  • Appropriate first degree or equivalent qualification;
  • Good knowledge of mechanical and electrical basics of various sample environment;
  • Good knowledge of measurement of various environment observables (pressure, temperature, voltage, and so on);
  • Experience in in-depth operating of sample environment;
  • Ability to manage a small team;
  • Ability and initiative to get to the heart of the problem and take it effectively through to completion;
  • Excellent observational skills;
  • Good interpersonal, communication  and presentational skills;
  • Ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels;
  • Self-motivated;
  • Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
  • Must be available to travel occasionally in UK and overseas including overnight absences.

Qualification & Experience - Desirable

  • PhD in appropriate subject; (Essential for appointment at the senior level)
  • Experience in in-depth maintaining of sample environment; (Essential for appointment at the senior level)
  • Good understanding in instrument control; (Essential for appointment at the senior level)
  • Experience in synchrotron based imaging and/or diffraction technique. (Essential for appointment at the senior level).

Further Information

  • Must be available to travel occasionally in UK and overseas including overnight absences.

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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