Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Beamline I15
Job Reference: DIA0845/TH
Post Type: Full time, 2 year fixed term
Division: Science
Salary information: Circa £33k
Application deadline: 31/01/2014

Duties

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. Located at Harwell Science & Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, we enable international level research across a wide range of scientific disciplines and industrial applications.
The Extreme Conditions Beamline (I15) at Diamond Light Source provides powder and single-crystal diffraction based around the diamond-anvil cell with the possibility to go to extreme temperature conditions. A wide range of on- and off-line laser facilities complements the diffraction techniques at high pressure.
We are seeking a PDRA to participate in the development of a combined laser-heating and diffraction set up for pressurized samples in diamond-anvil cells and the research at extreme conditions based on I15. A thorough knowledge of experimental high pressure techniques, x-ray diffraction, and laser heating is essential. The successful candidate will work with the beamline team to commission the set up for x-ray diffraction on laser-heated samples at high pressures and perform individual research in this area. Some beamline operation and development, including User support might be required. The post will be initially for two years with the possibility of a one-year extension.

Working with the I15 beamline team in the following areas:
• Commission the off-line laser heating and combined on-line laser-heating and diffraction set up for pressurized samples in diamond-anvil cells;
• Pursuit of a research programme on the study of materials under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature, including the analysis and publication of the results;
• Keeping up with latest results and research directions internationally;
• Developing experimental and data analysis techniques and implementing them on the beamline;
• Assist the beamline staff in maintaining and running the beamline peripheral laboratories;
• Occasional support of the research projects of the users, who will come from a diverse scientific background. (This will include occasional duties as local contact for users).

Qualifications and Experience: Essential
• Appropriate First Degree;
• Appropriate PhD degree in Physics, Chemistry, Materials or Earth Sciences, or equivalent qualification;
• Crystallographic data collection skills – powder and/or single-crystal procedures, computation and detectors;
• Experience with diamond anvil cells;
• Experience of in situ high-pressure and laser heating synchrotron x-ray diffraction;
• Ability and initiative to get to the heart of the problem and take it effectively through to completion;
• Good interpersonal, communication and presentational skills;
• Ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels;
• 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.

Qualifications and Experience: Desirable
• GSAS, Topas™ or other software for crystallography;
• Rietveld analysis and programme experience;
• Knowledge of optics and spectrometer systems
• Knowledge of vibrational spectroscopy applied at high pressure;
• Experience with Windows/Linux/Unix;
• Operational experience at x-ray beamlines and instrumentation;

Applying for employment For further details on applying for employment at Diamond, please visit our 'Application Form' page, http://www.diamond.ac.uk/Home/Jobs/Apply/Form.html