[Neutron] Instrument Scientist Position for FREIA at ESS

[Ken Andersen]

FREIA Instrument Scientist


The Science Directorate at the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund, Sweden, invites applications for an Instrument Scientist for building and operating the FREIA neutron reflectometer.

Description of directorate/division
The Science Directorate within ESS comprises a total of five divisions which, during the construction period of ESS, will support activities related to the design and actual construction of neutron scattering instruments but also activities related to providing supporting infrastructure such as laboratories, while developing an active scientific programme to support not only the neutron scattering instruments but also the future users which will be using such instruments. All activities within the Science Directorate rely to great extend on extensive collaborations amongst not only the European but world-wide neutron scattering user community, which results in a very dynamic and interesting work environment that will deliver a multi-disciplinary research center based on the world’s most powerful neutron source.

Job description and responsibilities

Instrument Scientists at the ESS work within the Neutron Instruments Division, responsible for the construction and operation of the ESS instruments. There are currently 15 instruments under construction for ESS, of which FREIA will be a general-purpose reflectometer, optimised for fast kinetic measurements of free liquid surfaces. As lead instrument scientist for the FREIA project, the immediate mission is to act as the scientific lead of the project to design, procure, install and commission the FREIA reflectometer. The lead instrument scientist will work closely with the lead engineer, forming the core instrument team. It is expected that the instrument project will run until 2024.

Your role:
-Provide the scientific and technical leadership of the FREIA instrument project.
-Deliver scientific plans for the proposed scientific scope of FREIA.
-Prepare the detailed design together with the core instrument team.
-As part of the Core Instrument Team, deliver a neutron scattering instrument according to the scope, budget and schedule determined at the appropriate instrument reviews.

FREIA is being built as an in-kind contribution from the UK, with the ISIS facility in Oxfordshire identified as the lead partner. The successful candidate will be primarily based (~75%) at ISIS during the design, procurement and initial installation phases, moving permanently to Lund as final installation starts. Frequent travel between ISIS and ESS will be required throughout the instrument construction project.
After commissioning, the mission will be to operate the instrument within the ESS user programme.
The successful candidate must be active in a scientific field of direct relevance to FREIA (soft matter, liquid interfaces, life sciences). The selected candidate will be given the opportunity to develop their own research projects, preferably at operating neutron research centres. Synergies with the neighbouring MAX-IV synchrotron as well as strong links with universities will be encouraged. ESS will support and encourage the candidate to take up an adjunct position at a university in an ESS partner country, in order to facilitate their own research.

Required qualifications:
PhD in experimental studies in the physical or life sciences relevant to the FREIA scientific programme.
Essential:
• Extensive practical experience in neutron or synchrotron x-ray reflectometry from liquid interfaces, and in a relevant area of research in soft condensed matter or the life sciences
• Experience of neutron instrumentation development
• Evidence of a strong independent research profile in relevant science areas commensurate with experience

Desirable:
• Practical knowledge of other neutron techniques relevant to research areas that include soft matter, interface science and the life sciences
• Post-doctoral experience involving neutron instrumentation.
• Practical experience of sample environment development
• Experience of working in a project environment
• Experience of Monte-Carlo simulation of neutron instruments
• Knowledge of polarised neutron reflectivity
• Working knowledge of one or more of the data analysis/visualisation packages used within ESS/ISIS (e.g. MatLab, Python, Mantid, GenX, Refl1d etc.)
• Availability to commence position shortly after appointment (Autumn 2017)
• Good interpersonal communication and presentation skills, ability to interact effectively with staff and users at all levels.
• Ability to work collaboratively and individually
• Flexibility to occasional requests to work out-of hours to support users
• Responsible attitude to personal safety, and the safety of others
• Willingness to international travel, distributing their time between ISIS and ESS as required by the project

Duration & Location

The position is permanent with six months initial probationary period. Your work place will be situated in Oxfordshire, UK and in Lund, Sweden.

Dates
The position is to be filled as soon as possible.
The deadline for applications is May 14, 2017.

More information can be found at:

https://europeanspallationsource.se/vacancies
ken.andersen at esss.se<mailto:ken.andersen at esss.se>, www.esss.se<http://www.esss.se/>, tel +46  (0) 721 792 057
http://europeanspallationsource.se/ken-andersen-0

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