Technical Specialist (Transmission Electron Microscopy)

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £34,980 to £44,263 with potential progression once in post to £46,974

Background

The Centre for Electron Microscopy (CEM) is based within the School of Metallurgy and Materials. The CEM supports and provides access to state-of-the art equipment for more than 70 research groups across 3 academic colleges at the University of Birmingham: Engineering & Physical Sciences, Life & Environmental Sciences, and Medical & Dental Sciences, as well as to more than 20 external academic and industrial partners. The CEM has over 200 individual users on a fleet of 10 electron microscopes which includes 3 Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM). Other services provided include sample preparation, coating and cleaning, and specimen sectioning on ultramicrotomes.

Role Summary

The postholder will be a technical specialist for Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), providing technical expertise, support, and guidance to users in the CEM to strengthen the service we offer. The postholder will support the CEM and its users through operation and maintenance of TEMs, sample preparation activities, and training and supervision of users.

Main Duties

• Support the Centre of Electron Microscopy and its users through specialist operation and maintenance of TEMs and the related sample preparation.
• Line-manage other members of technical staff.
• Help to develop new intellectual understanding.
• Assist in managing the laboratory areas including maintaining high standards of Health & Safety.
• Use in depth knowledge of methods and procedures to advise and lead on experimental techniques being used by researchers and/or students. This will involve communicating with colleagues and students at a range of experience levels.
• Diagnose and resolve problems and suggest solutions regarding techniques and experiments. Problem solving, including diagnosis of mechanical, electronic or vacuum problems in the microscopes. Liaison with service engineers to ensure as little down time with equipment as possible, using own judgment on when to call a service engineer.
• Carry out work with a large amount of autonomy.

Person Specification

• Hold, or be close to the completion of, a PhD relevant to the discipline (or equivalent qualifications/industrial experience).
• Extensive experience, specialist knowledge and refined skills in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) operation & sample preparation in at least one of the following areas: Engineering & Physical Sciences, Life & Environmental Sciences, and Medical & Dental Sciences. 
• A proven high level of instrumentation, experimentation and analytical capability.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Fluency in relevant techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones.
• Demonstrable ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively.
• Demonstrable understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
• Proven ability to contribute to the planning and organising of the research facility, programme and/or specific research projects.
• Demonstrable ability to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort.

Informal enquiries to Dr Ludwig Schneider, email: l.schneider.1@bham.ac.uk or Prof Yu-Lung Chiu, email: y.chiu@bham.ac.uk.

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 31/07/2024

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