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Job Title Support Scientist / Senior Support Scientist, Beamline I15
Job Reference DIA0823/TH
Post Type
Division Science
Salary information Circa £26k. Circa £33k for appointment at the higher level.
Application deadline 21/04/2013
Date of interviews 10/05/2013


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 seeking a (Senior) Support Scientist for the I15 Extreme Conditions Beamline at Diamond. The successful applicant will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the Extreme Conditions beamline, dedicated to the study of materials at high pressures and variable temperatures.  I15 offers a range of techniques based around the diamond-anvil cell and we are seeking to advance developments in the areas of laser heating and diffraction using Paris-Edinburgh type of large-volume presses. I15 offers a wide range of on- and off-line laser facilities to complement diffraction techniques at high pressure.

Work will involve both control and maintenance of beamline components and helping users with preparing the experiment, aligning samples, collecting and analysing data. A thorough knowledge of experimental high pressure techniques, laser heating, x-ray diffraction, and controls architectures is essential. Any background in crystallography or (visible) spectroscopy would be a strong advantage.

Support Scientist:

  • Local contact support to users by setting up and providing advice and guidance on the best approach to experiments, data analysis and research techniques.
  • Assist users in experiment preparation.
  • Assist in the procurement, installation, assembly, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamline and support laboratories, including testing and commissioning.
  • Produce reports and documentation (e.g. manuals) to support the beamline.
  • Support of in-house research programmes.
  • Maintenance of the beamline during operations.
  • Assist in undertaking problem solving and fault diagnosis of the beamline.
  • Collaborate with users within area of expertise.
  • Testing samples sent to Diamond by users, including data analysis and basic reports.

Senior Support Scientist:

  • Local contact support to users by setting up and providing advice and guidance on the best approach to experiments, data analysis and research techniques.
  • Assist users in experiment preparation.
  • Assist in the procurement, installation, assembly, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamline and support laboratories, including testing and commissioning.
  • Produce reports and documentation (e.g. manuals) to support the beamline.
  • Support of in-house research programmes.
  • Maintenance of the beamline during operations.
  • Assist in undertaking problem solving and fault diagnosis of the beamline.
  • Collaborate with users within area of expertise.
  • Scientific data collection including data analysis and contribution to publications.
  • Testing samples sent to Diamond by users, including data analysis and basic reports.
  • Develop and maintain expertise in a scientific field, and apply it to user support.
  • Develop new instrumentation, equipment and software to upgrade the performance of the beamline.

Qualification & Experience - Essential

  • Appropriate Science Degree;
  • Appropriate PhD and three years relevant experience;
  • Experience in the use of scientific instrumentation;
  • Experience in scientific data collection;
  • Experience in diffraction or scattering techniques at high pressure;
  • Good interpersonal, communication and presentational skills;
  • Ability to interact with staff and facility users at all levels;
  • Ability to work flexibly with occasional weekend and out-of hours working;
  • Ability and initiative to get to the heart of the problem and take it effectively through to completion;
  • 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;
  • Good organizational and planning skills.

Essential for appointment at the higher level:

  • Knowledge of synchrotron radiation techniques;
  • Experience in supporting Scientists in the conduct of research in a synchrotron or equivalent facility;
  • Good background in X-ray optics or X-ray instrumentation, including X-ray detectors;
  • Capability of providing full data analysis to the users;
  • Experience in laser heating;
  • Knowledge of vibrational spectroscopy applied at high pressure;
  • Rietveld analysis experience.

Qualification & Experience - Desirable

  • Knowledge of synchrotron radiation techniques;
  • Experience in programming (e.g. Python, Matlab, IDL);
  • Experience in supporting Scientists in the conduct of research in a synchrotron or equivalent facility;
  • Good background in X-ray optics or X-ray instrumentation, including X-ray detectors;
  • Capability of providing full data analysis to the users;
  • Experience in laser heating;
  • Experience in large volume press (Paris-Edinburgh type);
  • Knowledge of vibrational spectroscopy applied at high pressure;
  • Rietveld analysis experience. 

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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