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Job Title PDRA I24 - Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography beamline
Job Reference 0047/16/CH
Post Type Full time / 3 years Fixed Term Contract
Division Life Science
Salary information £32,000 -£37,000
Application deadline 19/06/2016


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.

The Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography beamline I24 provides a high flux (>10^12 ph/s), versatile X-ray beam (3 - 100 µm) for the most demanding of structural biology problems. A recently rebuilt bespoke end-station, a 100 Hz Pilatus3 6M hybrid pixel array detector and a robot for automated sample handling of both pins and crystallisation trays combine to provide a state-of-the-art MX beamline. I24 offers users the options of conventional pin-based crystallography, in situ experiments, and we are actively developing approaches for serial crystallography of microcrystals. These serial approaches have recently been successfully used at LCLS and SACLA in addition to at I24.

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated and experienced crystallographer at the Post Doctoral Research Associate level to build on recent exciting results in the fields of fast data collection at both 100 K and room temperature, and also to build on recent successes in serial delivery of many 1000’s of crystals to the X-ray beam at I24 and beyond. The PDRA will exploit state of the art detector and beamline technology available at I24 to further our understanding in these fields and help shape future directions for MX.

Duties:

  • Work closely with I24 beamline team and technical staff to develop new methods of data measurement and analysis with a particular emphasis on room temperature and high-frame rate data collection, radiation damage, serial delivery and the use of complementary methods;
  • Conduct scientific research and development into crystallographic methods under the guidance of the Principal Beamline Scientist;
  • Publish and present research at conferences both in UK and abroad;
  • Assist in developing I24 and other MX beamline capabilities in collaboration with MX staff;
  • Support users by providing advice and guidance on the best approach to experiments, data analysis and research techniques;
  • Supervision of some more junior internal or external staff/contractors.

Qualification & Experience - Essential

  • PhD or equivalent degree in relevant research area;
  • Proven ability in macromolecular crystallography;
  • Experience in macromolecular crystallography data collection and data analysis;
  • Experience in using synchrotron beamlines;
  • Experience with Windows/ Linux/Unix;
  • Proven ability to plan and carry out a research project;
  • Good interpersonal, communication, organizational and presentational skills;
  • Ability to interact with staff and facility users at all levels;
  • Ability to work on own initiative and take personal responsibility for delivery of work;
  • Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
  • Ability to work flexibly with occasional weekend and out-of hours.

Qualification & Experience - Desirable

  • Experience in scientific programming;
  • Experience in the preparation of protein crystal samples;
  • Experience with computer programming in support of data collection and/or processing;
  • Experience of instrument development and deployment.

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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