[Neutron] Post-doc in neutron scattering software development at ISIS

[Toby Perring - UKRI STFC]

Post-doctoral Research Associate in neutron scattering software development
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell
£30,357 - £32,997 or £37,789 - £41,988 (depending on skills and experience)
Full time
Fixed term (3 years)


About Us
The ISIS Neutron and Muon Source at the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is a world leading facility for condensed matter research and supports a national and international community of more than 2000 scientists. The Excitations Group at ISIS operates four world-class inelastic neutron spectrometers which allow investigations of the magnetic and lattice dynamics of materials from the femto-second to the nano-second range, and which are backed up by leading data analysis software.

The Excitations Group is seeking to appoint a scientist with both neutron scattering experience and experience of writing data analysis programs, to join a major project to improve and accelerate the analysis software in the Group. The project, christened PACE (Proper Analysis of Coherent Excitations), involves implementing analysis and modelling codes on distributed computing, and both simplifying and improving workflows by creating interfaces between experimental data, analysis and modelling codes. The project involves the programming effort of scientists from within the Excitations Group and software engineers from the Scientific Computing Department at STFC.

About the role
You will join the Excitations Group as part of the PACE team to develop and experimentally verify models for the instrumental resolution functions and to develop algorithms for convoluting the resolution function with third party models for the scattering function of magnetic and lattice dynamics. You will participate in neutron experiments and perform data analysis. There will be opportunity to conduct an independent scientific programme that utilises the large-scale computing methods to analyse neutron scattering data as part of the prototyping work for the project.

The duties of the position:


  *   To extend the current resolution function models to account for the latest instrumentation and upgrades to instrumentation


  *   Develop and implement new methods to convolute the resolution function with existing modelling codes and verify against experimental data


  *   To work with software engineers in the PACE team to integrate the algorithms into the parallel and distributed computing framework to be developed as part of PACE


  *   Participate in neutron spectroscopy experiments and analyse the data from spectroscopy experiments that will help develop the aforementioned models and methods


  *   Conduct an active research programme in neutron spectroscopy.

About you
You will be educated to PhD level (or equivalent) in one of the physical sciences (chemistry, physics, material science, earth science etc.)

You will have research experience in either lattice dynamics, magnetic dynamics, phase transitions, crystallography, molecular spectroscopy or disordered materials.

You will be able to demonstrate your skills in programming in either Matlab or Python.

You will also have post-doctoral experience in a relevant research environment (extensive for Band E level) - or early stage (recent PhD completion) researchers considered (Band D level)

What we offer
In addition to the competitive salary, an excellent index linked pension scheme and generous leave allowance are offered.

How to Apply
Applicants are required to include a cover letter outlining their suitability for this role.

Applications are handled by UK Shared Business Services, to apply please visit our job board at http://www.topcareer.jobs/Vacancy/irc245333_8367.aspx . Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1793 867000.

Further information
Further details about the post and the essential and desirable skills can be found on the link to the vacancy job board above.

To discuss the post or seek clarification about the PACE project, please contact Toby Perring, toby.perring at stfc.ac.uk<mailto:toby.perring at stfc.ac.uk>, who is the scientist responsible for the PACE project.

The closing date for applications is 23rd July 2018.



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