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Job Title Support Scientist / Senior Support Scientist, BLB07
Job Reference DIA0863/TH
Post Type
Division Science
Salary information Circa £26k or circa £33k for appointment at the higher level.
Application deadline 01/09/2013
Date of interviews 20/09/2013


Job Description

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.

We are seeking a highly motivated support scientist to assist in the planning, building and commissioning of the beamline, helping users with their experiments, maintaining the beamline during operations and developing and testing of new equipment and software. Candidates will have an appropriate degree and experience in the use of scientific instrumentation and data collection.

We require an experienced scientist to join the Versatile soft X-ray (VERSOX) beamline B07.
Beamline B07 (VERSOX)  aims to provide two distinct facilities. The first is an ambient pressure (< 100 mbar) soft X-ray facility for studies in the field if catalysis, pharmaceuticals, biology, environmental science, etc, The second is a soft X-ray photoemission and absorption beamline with high throughput sample screening and versatile detector arrangements, which will be used for experiments in a variety of field including electronics, materials science, chemistry, heritage conservation, etc. 

Support Scientist - Scientific support to designated beamlines and the user operation programme.

  • 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 in the procurement, installation, assembly, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamline and support laboratories, including testing and commissioning;
  • Liaise with the suppliers of the beamline components;
  • 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 and in house staff within area of expertise.

Senior Support Scientist - Scientific support to the B07 beamline and the user operation programme.

  • 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 in the procurement, installation, assembly, and maintenance of a range of equipment and systems on the beamline and support laboratories, including testing and commissioning;
  • Liaise with the suppliers of the beamline components;
  • 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 and in house staff within area of expertise;
  • Scientific data collection including 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;
  • Collaborate with users and in house staff within area of expertise;
  • Development of new instrumentation, equipment and software to upgrade the performance of the beamline.

Qualification & Experience - Essential

  • Appropriate Science Degree;
  • Experience in the use of scientific instrumentation;
  • Capability of writing specifications and instructions for scientific instrumentation;
  • Experience in handling hazardous chemicals and COSHH procedures;
  • 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.

Essential for appointment at the higher level:

  • Appropriate PhD and three years relevant experience;
  • Knowledge of soft X-ray synchrotron radiation techniques - photoemission and photoabsorption;
  • Experience in macro programming (e.g. Python, Matlab, IDL); 
  • Experience in scientific data collection;
  • Experience in supporting Scientists in the conduct of research in a synchrotron or equivalent facility;
  • Capability of providing full data analysis to the users.

Qualification & Experience - Desirable

  • Appropriate PhD and three years relevant experience;
  • Knowledge of soft X-ray synchrotron radiation techniques - photoemission and photoabsorption;
  • Experience in macro programming (e.g. Python, Matlab, IDL);
  • Experience in scientific data collection;
  • Experience in supporting Scientists in the conduct of research in a synchrotron or equivalent facility;
  • Capability of providing full data analysis to the users;
  • Good organizational and planning skills.

Further Information

Must be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, including overnight absences.

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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