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 PDRA post will be based on beamline I12 (JEEP). I12 is a state of the art high energy beamline for imaging and diffraction which serves the Material Science, Chemical Processing and Engineering Science community. However, other communities ( Palaeontology, Physics and Crystallography) are showing increasing interest in the unique capabilities offered by the beamline.

The high energy spectrum available (50 keV- 150 kV) allows elegant diffraction experiments using both monochromatic mode (large 2D area detector) and white beam (multi-element energy dispersive detectors) which in powder diffraction or Laue geometry cover a large fraction of the reciprocal space simultaneously. This makes the beamline very well suited for fast in- situ studies or pair-distribution function. Ongoing instrumental upgrades will improve time-resolved diffraction with 2D diffraction- detectors, capable of a frame-rate around 1kHz.

Suitable candidates should be familiar with the application of synchrotron based X-ray diffraction using 2D detectors, preferably using high energies.

The in-house research program in Material Science focuses on micro-structural transitions in the millisecond time domain, e.g strain induced phase-transitions, quenching and impact. However, other fields of current interest in Physics or related fields could be pursued if appropriate.

The post holder is expected to have a very good background in Material Science or Applied Physics with a focus on material properties on polycrystalline metals.

They will be required to work within the beamline team and with other staff to ensure efficient beamline commissioning, user support and instrument developments. It is essential that they are familiar with methods of monochromatic diffraction data analysis. Laue- diffraction analysis would be an asset.

Main responsiblities will be:

• Carrying out in-house research activities;
• Carrying out experiments, analysing data and publication of results;
• Maintenance of beamline during operations;
• Development and testing of new equipment and software;
• Support of users in performing experiments at Diamond;
• Assisting with users in performing experiments at Diamond;
• Assisting users wuth data analysis;
• Presenting latest results and research directions on international conferences and workshops

• Ability and initiative to get to the heart of the probem and take it effectively through to completion;
• Good interpersonal, communication and presentational skills;
• Self Motivation;
• Experience of 2D diffraction data analysis software;
• Experience or knowledge of synchrotron based X-ray diffraction using 2D detectors, preferably at high energies;
• Solid background in Material Science and Applied Physics;
• Knowledge of synchrotron radiation optics;
• Appropriate First Degree;
• PhD;
• Must be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, including overnight absences

• Good organisational and planning skills;
• Ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels;
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
• Knowledge of synchrotron radiation optics