Diamond Light Source is a new synchrotron and a leading scientific facility of its type in the world. Located on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in South Oxfordshire, we host facilities supporting cutting edge research in all fields of science.

The position will support the InfraRed (IR) microspectroscopy facility, B22, where a broadband and highly stable IR microprobe is provided through an optical beamline from the bending magnet Synchrotron Radiation (SR) source.

We wish to recruit a scientist with experience and strong research interest in Life Sciences - with skills in organic matter or biological/medical systems/tissues handling, including usage of state-of-the-art biolab instrumentation for sample preparation/analysis - ideally with experience on IR techniques, or microscopy/imaging applications.

B22 is designed to attain the highest sensitivity at diffraction limited spatial resolution for molecular microscopy and imaging in the mid-IR range, to offer high beam stability and signal-to-noise level, and to provide a competitive photon flux for vibrational spectroscopy in the far-IR/Thz region. Two Fourier Transform IR (FTIR) interferometer with IR Microscopes will be the end stations, dedicated to IR imaging by Focal Plane Array and IR confocal microscopy in point-by-point scanning mode. Analytical applications where SR IR vibrational/molecular microspectroscopy will be beneficial to the UK and EU scientific user community include biology and medicine, chemistry, physics, geology, environmental and forensic sciences, as well as archaeology and fine arts studies.

The scientist is expected to support the in-house experimental and the users’ research during the operation on the end stations, mostly but not only in the Life Science field. He/She has to maintain the IR beamline preparation area and the dedicated biological and inorganic peripheral lab to carry on the sample preparation/analysis, including full support to the users beamtime. Contribution to the data analysis and scientific publication/presentation of the results will be an asset.

Working with the IR microspectroscopy beamline team in the following areas:

• Optimization and upgrade of the IR beamline end stations and preparation/support laboratory;
• Testing and commissioning of sample environment equipment and peripheral lab instrumentation;
• Maintenance, operation and development of the beamline end stations and support laboratory;
• Support of the research projects of the users from various scientific community;
• Participation in the in-house research programmes and the publication of the results;
• Commissioning and development of data acquisition, visualization and analysis software;
• Presentation of beamline developments and scientific papers at meetings and conferences.

• Experience in biological/medical sample preparation and Life Sciences sample handling;
• Experience in the use of biolab laboratory instrumentation;
• Experience in scientific data collection and data analysis;
• Experience with Windows/Linux/Unix;
• Ability and initiative to get to the heart of the problem and take it effectively through to completion;
• Good interpersonal, communication and presentational skills;
• Ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels;
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
• Ability to work flexibly with occasional weekend and out-of hours working;
• Self motivation.

• Appropriate PhD degree or equivalent post graduate qualification;
• Experience in the relevant area of science: IR microscopy and/or imaging;
• Experience in data analysis, visualization with knowledge of analysis software;
• Experience or knowledge of synchrotron radiation and/or IR techniques.