This vacancy is now closed
Job Title Support Scientist / Senior Support Scientist
Job Reference DIA0835/NH
Post Type
Division Science
Salary information Circa £26k or circa £33k for appointment at the senior level
Application deadline 05/06/2013
Date of interviews 09/07/2013


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.

I20 is a beamline consisting of two x-ray spectrometers that can operate independently. The first branch is based on a very high energy resolution scanning spectrometer that provides a high photon flux, and is particularly suitable for the study of dilute samples. The second branch uses a dispersive geometry to collect x-ray absorption spectra with high time resolution, appropriate for the study of chemical processes.
The Support Scientist will work as part of the beamline team in the support of the I20 spectrometers. In particular, they will have delegated responsibilities for maintaining and upgrading the spectrometer of the dispersive branch, helping users setup and run experiments and helping to commission and maintain this second branch.

The aim of the Support Scientist/Senior Support Scientist is to provide scientific support to the versatile spectroscopy beamline, I20, and to the user operation programme. In particular, they be expected to be mostly involved with the dispersive spectrometer.

  • Local contact support to users by setting up and providing advice and guidance on the best approach to experiments, data analysis and research techniques;
  • Testing of samples sent to Diamond by users;
  • 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;
  • Assist in the maintenance of the beamline during operations;
  • Assist in undertaking problem solving and fault diagnosis of the beamline;
  • Collaborate with users and in house staff within area of expertise;

Additional duties for appointment at Senior level:

  • Scientific data collection, data analysis and contribution to publications;
  • 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 PhD and three years relevant experience; (for appointment at the higher level only)
  • Appropriate Science Degree;
  • 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;
  • Experience in scientific data collection;
  • Knowledge of synchrotron radiation techniques;

Qualification & Experience - Desirable

  • Good organizational and planning skills;
  • 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 support to the users (essential for appointment at the higher level);
  • Experience in the use of common sample environment equipment: cryostats, furnaces, reaction rigs, etc. (essential for appointment at the higher level);
  • Knowledge of common laboratory characterization equipment (essential for appointment at the higher level);
  • Experience of working on a synchrotron radiation beamline (essential for appointment at the higher level);
  • Experience in x-ray spectroscopy (essential for appointment at the higher level);

 

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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