Post-Doctoral Research Associate - I24

Post-Doctoral Research Associate - I24
Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire
Salary £33,963 - £39,955, dependent upon skills and experience
Full time / Flexible hours considered


About Us
Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national 3rd generation 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 highly motivated and experienced crystallographer, at Post-Doctoral Research Associate level, to build on recent exciting results in the field of serial crystallography. This will encompass several areas of the experiment from preparation of samples (from expression to crystallisation) to data collection and analysis. Key emerging areas of interest are dynamic crystallography and high energy data collection. The PDRA will develop methods for driving and tracking reactions in crystals using new facilities such as the portable laser system PORTO at Diamond and also high energy MX.

The successful candidate will:
• Develop methods and software related to the measurement and analysis of crystallographic data for MX with a particular emphasis on microcrystallography, serial crystallography and new modes of sample delivery.
• Provide technical and scientific support to the operational MX beamlines and user programme to ensure effective use of Diamond facilities by all users.
• Assist in developing I24 and other MX beamline capabilities in collaboration with MX staff.
• Interact with the beamline and users in areas relevant to your projects
• Exploit, and contribute to the development of the state of the art beamline technology available at I24.

The Diamond Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography beamline I24 provides a versatile tool for life science; offering high flux, small beamsize, and flexible sample environment, it is well suited to tackling challenging problems in structural biology. A bespoke end-station, automated sample exchange and two detectors: a silicon Pilatus and new CdTe Eiger, combine to provide a state-of-the-art MX beamline. I24 offers users conventional pin-based cryo-crystallography, room temperature experiments, and serial crystallography of microcrystals. We aim to be at the forefront of MX, developing new approaches for the most demanding structural biology problems, for example through serial approaches which have been successfully used at X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) sources such as SACLA, while the recent addition of a CdTe detector opens up a new field of high energy MX.

This position represents an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic person to play a key role in expanding, and adding to, the serial capabilities of I24 and Diamond.

Benefits
Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package to support staff in achieving a positive work/life balance. This includes 25 days annual leave plus 13 days of statutory and company holidays, along with flexible working hours and an excellent 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
Applicants are required to outline their suitability for this role via the online application process. Please also state where you saw this role advertised.

The closing date for applications is 10 January 2020 and interviews will be scheduled shortly afterwards.