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.

Beamline B24 is a full field cryo X-ray microscopy beamline covering the energy range 200eV -2.5 keV dedicated to the collection of tomographic data on biological samples. It is due to start operations in 2014.

We are seeking a highly motivated support scientist to assist in the building and commissioning of the beamline, helping users with their experiments, maintaining the beamline during operations and developing and testing of new equipment, techniques and software.

Candidates should have appropriate qualifications and demonstrate experience  relevant to biological cryo soft X-ray tomography.

• 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. 
• 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.

Additional duties at senior level:

• 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.
   

• Good interpersonal, communication and presentational skills.
• Ability to interact with staff and facility users at all levels.
• Ability to work flexibly including weekend and out-of hours working as required.
• 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 motivated.
• Must be available to travel occasionally within the UK and abroad, including overnight absences.
• Good organisational and planning skills.
• Experience in the use of scientific instrumentation.
• Experience in scientific data collection.
• Experience in computing and data analysis 
• Appropriate Science Degree

Essential for appointment at the senior level. Candidate should have:

• Experience in one of the following scientific techniques:
•        X-ray microscopy as applied to biological samples.
•        Electron microscopy of biological samples.
• Experience in the preparation of cryogenic samples for microscopy techniques.
• Appropriate Science Degree
• Appropriate PhD and three years relevant experience.
   

• Experience in X-ray microscopy as applied to biological samples.
• Experience in electron microscopy of biological samples.
• Experience in the preparation of cryogenic samples for microscopy techniques.
• Experience in light microscopy.
• Experience in supporting Scientists in a research facility environment.
• Appropriate PhD and three years relevant experience.