Beamline Scientist

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 Beamline Scientist to collaborate with the Principal Beamline Scientist for the commissioning and operation of beamline B24. 

B24 is a soft X-ray tomography correlative cryo-microscopy beamline. The beamline provides the capability to carry out 3D imaging of whole cells up to a resolution of ~25 nm using full field cryo X-ray tomography. The X-ray microscope is complemented by super resolution microscopy for which a bespoke structured illumination microscope has been developed for use at cryo temperatures. This enables B24 to provide a unique correlative cryo-imaging workflow for users of the beamline. 

B24 is part of the Biological CryoImaging science group at Diamond that also includes eBIC the UK’s national cryo-electron microscopy centre. Thus, together with the capabilities of the other, primarily X-ray based, imaging instruments at Diamond the group provides a platform for using electrons, X-rays and visible light to image biological samples from proteins to whole cells and tissues across a diverse range of length and time scales. 

Responsibilities include: 

·      Provide operational support for the beamline, including responsibility for the day-to-day safe operation of the beamline, interact closely with the users of the facility.

·      Act as a single point of contact (Local Contact) for a proportion of user experiments providing specialist technical/scientific advice.

·      Collaborate on beamline upgrades and development projects, including taking specific responsibility for certain components of the beamline such as the design, manufacture, installation, testing and commissioning phases.

·      Manage the day-to-day coordination of support groups at Diamond to implement beamline upgrade projects, to improve the quality of the beamline, develop solutions for emerging problems, and ensure its smooth operation 

About You

You will hold an appropriate PhD degree or equivalent qualification or proven relevant experience. 

You will also have experience in the following areas:

·      Using X-ray imaging

·      Correlative imaging

·      Structural/cell biology techniques.

·      Use of flexible experimental setups and/or sample environment equipment. 

·      Windows/Linux/Unix 

The role has a strong research component and as part of your responsibilities you will develop an internationally competitive research programme which exploits the capabilities of B24 and bioimaging at Diamond in general. You will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories for structural and cellular biology embedded at the beamline and within the Research Complex at Harwell to pursue your research. Diamond provides support for external grant funding through national and international funding agencies and is also partnered with Doctoral training programmes funded by UKRI and Wellcome to facilitate this. 

Benefits

Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package to support staff in achieving a positive work/life balance. This includes 26 days annual leave plus Christmas closure, public holidays, 2 annual volunteering days and flexible working hours. We also offer an excellent defined benefit pension scheme. Staff also have access to a range of amenities on site including a nursery, cafes, a restaurant and sports and leisure facilities. A relocation allowance may also be available where applicable. 

To Apply

Please use the online application process to apply and tell us why you believe you are suitable for this role. 

The closing date for applications is 2nd February 2025.