Sample Environment Development Scientist

at  Diamond Light Source

SAMPLE ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT SCIENTIST

£38,756 to £42,588 or £46,676 to £54,912 per annum for the Senior level
Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire – primarily based onsite / some home working available
Full time / Flexible hours considered.
3 Years
Reference: 11424

ABOUT US

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. By accelerating electrons to near light-speed, Diamond generates brilliant beams of light from infra-red to X-rays which are used for academic and industry research and development across a range of scientific disciplines including structural biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, earth and environmental sciences.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We now have an opportunity for a Sample Environment Development Scientist (Beamline Scientist) to join the science team of the Imaging and Microscopy group working across the Soft X-ray Scanning Microscopy and Ptychography Beamlines (I08 and I08-1) and the Hard X-ray Nanoprobe at Beamline I14
I08 is Diamond’s soft X-ray scanning X-ray microscopy beamline, the central theme of the beamline is the ability to obtain morphological and chemically specific information on a full range of materials (inorganic/organic). I08 uses X-rays in the 250 to 4400 eV range, with the source optimised to enable studies exploiting linearly or circularly polarised radiation. Samples able to be studied with both absorption and phase contrast techniques, with lateral resolutions down to ~50 nm. I08 is complemented by the I08-1 endstation for soft X-ray ptychography.
The Hard X-ray Nanoprobe beamline is a dedicated facility for nanoscale microscopy, with a beam size of 50 nm, an energy range of 5-23keV, optimised for scanning X-ray fluorescence, X-ray spectroscopy (XANES) and diffraction. Techniques such as ptychography, tomography and in-situ capabilities are a strong focus for recent beamline developments, providing exciting capabilities for the beamline’s user community across a wide range of scientific interests, from environmental science, biological imaging, and catalysis through to energy and materials science.
In order to grow the programme of in situ spectromicroscopy across the beamlines we now have an opportunity for a ‘hands on’ Scientist to work on an initially 3-year fixed term basis, focused on sample environment development and in situ experiments, as well as developing a collaborative science program in these areas
You will support the scientific research projects of the beamlines assisting external and internal users, utilizing in situ capabilities developing and commissioning gas/heating/liquid/biasing sample environments across the scanning probe beamlines, providing technical and scientific expertise, advising on strategy for experimental and data collection procedures including data analysis, and enabling the publication of the results.
Additionally, you will be involved in beamline and peripheral lab development; managing the development, procurement, testing, installation, and maintenance of bespoke scientific equipment and software to perform novel experiments, contributing to strategies and implementations for improvements to operational procedures and beamline component development, and providing input and recommendations in safety aspects of the beamline and peripheral laboratories.
This post represents an excellent opportunity to create both collaborative and personal scientific research programmes exploiting the capabilities of in situ spectromicroscopy characterisation of materials.
*Applicants will be considered at either Grade 4 or 5, depending on the strength of your skills, experience and qualifications. *

To be considered for the Senior role you will also have post-doctoral experience in a relevant science area: chemistry, physics, biology, material science, and experience in the following:

• Beamline X-ray optics and X-ray instrumentation, including X-ray detectors.
• Beamline design, construction, commissioning and operation.
• Supporting Scientists in the conduct of research in a synchrotron or equivalent facility.
• Project management
• Programming skills in Python or a similar language