PDRA High- Z Sensors and Charge Integrating Detectors.

Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire – based onsite.

Full time / Flexible hours considered.

3 Years / Months Fixed Term

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 Post-Doctoral Research Associate to join a successful international collaboration between PSI in Switzerland and DLS in the UK. Diamond Light Source has a need for new detector systems that will meet the challenge of the increase in photon flux brought by the Diamond II upgrade. The increase in photon flux will have a big impact in crystallography and other techniques that currently use photon counting area detectors. It is therefore necessary to investigate different detector technologies that, instead of counting photons, accumulate the charge generated by the X-rays. The most advanced charge integrating hybrid pixel detector suitable for synchrotron applications and with reasonable size currently is Jungfrau developed at PSI. The project aim is for the PDRA to test and integrate multiple Jungfrau detector systems in collaboration with the detector teams at PSI and DLS. This collaboration will include studying high Z sensor materials, such as Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT), for higher energy X-ray detection and determining new calibration techniques. The PDRA will be required to spend up to 50% of their time on site at PSI in Switzerland.

Your tasks will be:

• Characterise and develop calibration routines for Jungfrau detectors.
• Perform performance verification experiments of hybrid detectors with high-Z sensors.
• Perform X-ray beamtime experiments and analyse results.
• Understand and document data acquisition system.

About You

You will hold anappropriate PhD degree or equivalent qualification with experience and knowledge in the following:

• Development and characterization of hybrid pixel detectors.
• Programming skills relevant to data-analysis
• Basic knowledge of detector data acquisition systems and digital electronics

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 initial closing date for applications is 9th June 2024, however applications will be reviewed and interviewed on an ongoing basis until this vacancy is filled.