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Job Title Support Scientist / Senior Support Scientist, Beamline B21
Job Reference DIA0707/CG
Post Type
Division Science
Salary information Circa £26k and circa £33k for appointment at the higher level.
Application deadline 30/04/2012


Job Description

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.

We are looking to recruit a Support Scientist/Senior Support Scientist, to a position on the Scattering beamline, HATSAXS, B21. The principal role for this post will be to facilitate User support during operations but will also involve assisting in the commissioning of optics components and new end station equipment.
 
Candidates should have an appropriate qualification and experience of synchrotron radiation. Experience of Non Crystalline Diffraction / SAXS-WAXS would be and advantage. For appointment at the higher level, candidates should have a Ph.D and relevant experience.
Non Crystalline Diffraction is one of the truly synergistic interdisciplinary sectors within UK science and the wider international arena and I22/B21 serve communities in the biological, medical, physical and environmental science communities. The selected candidate will be encouraged to participate in individual or collaborative research activities on the beamline and elsewhere.

On B21 (HATSAXS), the emphasis will be on high throughput where a range of automated sample delivery systems will be available for both biology and materials science. We plan to carry out these measurements with the highest possible reliability and accuracy once operational using X-rays in the range 6-23 keV. The construction of this beamline will end in the second half of 2012, and will be open for users in early 2013 after a commissioning period in which the Support Scientist will play a full role.

Senior Support Scientist

The position will be based on beamline B21. The principal role for the Senior Support Scientist will be User support during operations but will also involve assisting in both beamline and equipment commissioning. Some operational support of I22 will also be required. The selected candidate will be encouraged to participate in individual or collaborative research activities on the beamline and elsewhere.

Working with the beamline team in the following areas:

  • Procurement, installation, assembly, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamlines and support laboratories, including testing and commissioning;
  • Local contact support to users by setting up and providing advice and guidance on the best approach to experiments, data analysis and research techniques;
  • To test samples sent to Diamond by users;
  • Produce reports and documentation (e.g. manuals) to support the beamlines and laboratories;
  • Administrative tasks in support of the SAXS Beamlines;
  • Participate in projects to improve and upgrade the facilities provided including software for the users;
  • Contribute to in-house research programmes and the publication of the results
  • Presentation of beamline developments and scientific papers at meetings and conferences.

Support Scientist

The position will be based on beamline B21. The principal role for the Support Scientist will be User support during operations but will also involve assisting in both beamline and equipment commissioning. Some operational support of I22 will also be required. The selected candidate will be encouraged to participate in individual or collaborative research activities on the beamline and elsewhere.

Working with the beamline team in the following areas:

  • Assist in the procurement, installation, assembly, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamlines and support laboratories, including testing and commissioning;
  • Local contact support to users in performing their experiments Diamond;
  • To test samples sent to Diamond by users;
  • Produce reports and documentation (e.g. manuals) to support the beamlines and laboratories;
  • Administrative tasks in support of the SAXS Beamlines;
  • Participate in projects to improve and upgrade the facilities provided including software for the users;
  • Support of the in-house research activities and the publication of the results.

Qualification & Experience - Essential

Qualification & Experience - Desirable

  • Appropriate first degree;
  • Experience or knowledge of synchrotron radiation;
  • 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;
  • Must be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, including overnight absences.

Further Information

  • Ph.D and relevant experience; (Essential for appointment at the higher level)
  • Experience of Non Crystalline Diffraction/SAXS-WAXS;
  • Experience with Windows/Linux/Unix;
  • Experience with vacuum systems;
  • Experience of beamline instrumentation;
  • Knowledge of beamline controls systems and  x-ray optics.

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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