Job Postings

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Postings more than one year old

Beam Line Scientist at The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, posted 12 February, 2012

The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL, a Directorate of SLAC, and a national research facility for scientific applications in synchrotron radiation) at Stanford University is seeking a Beam Line Scientist with strong methodological, technical and scientific skills for its Chemistry and Catalysis Division x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) team. She/he will assist and support visiting scientific users in designing optimized data collection and analysis strategies for XAS studies of a wide variety of experiments, with an emphasis on catalytic, chemical, (bio) geochemical, and environmental systems.

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Providing guidance, training, hands-on assistance, and problem analysis/resolution help to visiting scientists performing XAS experiments at SSRL beam lines 11-2, 4-1, and related XAS beam lines.
• Participating in technical, hardware/instrument, and methodological development projects to support XAS experiments, such as designing new in-situ sample cells.
• Configuring beam line optics and hutch instrumentation for visiting users at these beam lines.
• Maintaining the operational capability of detectors, data acquisition systems, motion control systems, and software at these beam lines.
• Participating in scientific user training programs.
• Working occasional evenings and weekends as part of the on-call user support program.

The successful applicant will have the opportunity to participate in collaborations with visiting and in-house scientists.

Qualifications: The successful candidate should have a Ph.D. degree (in chemistry, catalysis, physics, biology, geochemistry, or a related field) with strong working experience in synchrotron radiation based XAS research. Experience with, and interest in the development of one or more of the following areas is required: synchrotron radiation based x-ray optics, experiment reaction cells, experimental instrumentation, detectors, electronics, electromechanical hardware, and motion control/data acquisition software. Excellent written and verbal communications skills. Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with a diverse group of user groups, scientists, and technical staff in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Desired Skills: Knowledge of synchrotron-based x-ray absorption spectroscopy methodology (data acquisition, analysis) as applied to chemistry, catalysis, physics, biology, geochemistry, or a related field. Ability to conduct/publish original scientific research. Recognize proper functioning of beam line detectors, electronics, motion systems. Direct experience and knowledge of x-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques is highly desirable. Successful experience working in teams is highly desirable.

Information regarding the online application process specific to this position can be found at the SLAC HR website (https://tbe.taleo.net/NA12/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=SLAC&cws=1&rid=638).

Postdoctoral Scholar Position in X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, reposted 23 Jan 2012

A Postdoctoral Scholar position is available in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. A recent Ph.D. and experience in synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS: XANES, EXAFS) and XAS data analysis are required. Experience with f‑element electronic structure, computer programming in Fortran and/or Python, actinide/lanthanide chemistry, nuclear and radiochemistry, radiation detection techniques, or closely related fields is desirable.

The Nitsche group investigates radionuclide (Pu, Eu, Np, Am) sorption on solid surfaces, such as functionalized mesoporous materials and iron and manganese minerals. The speciation and local coordination environment are examined with XAS. Data is collected at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source (SSRL) and currently analyzed with the data analysis suite RSXAP. The successful postdoctoral candidate will work with a graduate student team in the laboratory to prepare materials for XAS measurements, which will involve materials synthesis and characterization, loading with radionuclides, and the determination of sorption properties. The candidate will work on beamline setup and data collection at SSRL, perform XAS data and multi-component analyses, and give instruction of data analysis to the graduate student team. The candidate will also participate with visiting and staff scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and students on scientific research; provide guidance to and foster the development of graduate and undergraduate students; publish experimental results in scientific journals and present results at scientific meetings; and maintain a safe working environment in the laboratory.

This appointment starts ASAP, and is for one year, with the possibility for renewal thereafter. The annual salary range is $54,826-58,116, depending on experience and qualifications.

Qualified applicants must submit a curriculum vitae and arrange to have two letters of recommendation sent to Professor Heino Nitsche (hnitsche@berkeley.edu), University of California, Berkeley, Department of Chemistry, 446 Latimer Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720‑1460. This posting will be open until the position is filled.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Chemist/Physicist X-ray Spectroscopy Postdoc - 74013, posted 11 Jan 2012

Organization: CH-Chemical Sciences

The Actinide Chemistry Group of the Chemical Sciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has an exciting opportunity for a postdoctoral researcher who will perform x-ray absorption, x-ray emission, and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) studies of strongly correlated electron systems. The materials under study run the gamut from lanthanide organometallic molecules to actinide intermetallic superconductors, and the questions we address have implications even for fundamental properties of elements in the periodic table.

Key responsibilities: • Conduct experimental studies of actinide and lanthanide systems, mainly synchrotron based spectroscopic measurements. • Interpret data and develop the techniques used, especially RIXS. • Publish experimental results in scientific journals and present results at scientific meetings. • Assist in the preparation of research proposals.

Qualifications: • Recent (within 3 years) Ph.D. degree in chemistry, physics, or related field. • Experience in x-ray absorption spectroscopy or scattering. • Ability to perform research tasks independently and participate in a team environment. • Demonstrated records of publications in high quality peer-reviewed journals.

Note: This is a 1 year term appointment with the possibility of renewal for up to 3 years based upon satisfactory job performance, continuation of funds, and on-going operational need.

How To Apply Apply directly online at http://bit.ly/lbl74013PhysicsToday and follow the instructions to complete the application process.

About Us: The Actinide Chemistry Group (ACG) of the Chemical Sciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) performs cutting-edge experimental research in fundamental actinide chemistry and physics. The diverse array of collaborative research programs in the ACG encompass coordination and organometallic chemistry, solid-state chemistry and physics, solution and gas-phase chemistry. Unique experimental capabilities in the ACG, as well as at synchrotron light sources, enable state-of-the-art research with actinide elements.

Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer dedicated to the development of a diverse workforce.

PhD position on characterisation of bonding differences by high-resolution X-ray emission and inelastic X-ray scattering techniques, posted 25 March 2011

One worldwide recognized strategy to reduce spent nuclear fuel long term radiotoxicity from a geological to a historical time-scale is the P&T (partitioning and transmutation) concept, where Pu and the minor actinides (MA) are separated and reprocessed in the nuclear fuel cycle. P&T requires the separation of trivalent actinides (An(III) = Am and Cm) from the chemically similar trivalent lanthanides (Ln(III)) as some of the latter have large neutron capture cross sections, compromising transmutation efficiency in the nuclear fission process. INE designs and optimizes N-donor ligands with recognized potential for use in the partitioning process. Optimization of the partitioning ligands is a topic of global interest, as the present ligands do not yet fulfil all criteria for application in an industrial process. Such optimization implies basic understanding of the chemical and physical processes responsible for ligand selectivity for An(III) over Ln(III).

The doctoral candidate will apply the innovative high-resolution X-ray emission spectroscopy (HRXES) and inelastic X-ray scattering (IXS) techniques to characterize any subtle bonding differences between the partitioning ligands and the Ln(III) / An(III) cation, which are expected to be the basis for the ligand selectivity. He/She will take part in developing, constructing and commissioning a multi analyzer crystal spectrometer for HRXES and IXS. This instrument will be installed for use at the INE-Beamline dedicated to actinide speciation investigations and the planned CAT-ACT-Beamline for catalysis and actinide research located at the ANKA synchrotron radiation facility, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Campus Nord, Germany. The experiments will be performed at ANKA, employing the newly constructed spectrometer, and at external synchrotron sources, e.g., ESRF, SLS. In the first experimental phase, the investigations will focus on a comparative ex-situ study of An and Ln n Pr BTP complexes in solid and liquid phase. In the second experimental phase, the PhD thesis will concentrate on comparative in-situ HRXES/IXS structural liquid-liquid extraction investigations looking from the An/Ln metal centre or ligand atoms’ “point of view”.

The candidate should have Master/Diplom in physics, chemistry or related natural sciences, strong interest in instrumentation, method development and spectroscopy, and good English language skills.

The position is limited to three years and starts immediately.

Applications up to: 30.04.2011

The interested candidates should send a CV per E-mail to Tonya Vitova. ( Tonya.Vitova@kit.edu ).

see also: http://www.ine.kit.edu/english/127.php

• Postings more than one year old