Nanoscale X-ray Microscopy Scientist

Organizational Overview

The Imaging and Microscopy Program at BNL’s National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) offers world-class capabilities for imaging complex and heterogeneous materials with diverse imaging modalities at multiple length scales.  The Imaging and Microscopy Program operates five beamlines (FXI, HXN, SRX, TES, and XFM) with strong general user programs and is constructing CDI beamline.  FXI and HXN are nanoscale resolution beamlines offering full-field and scanning imaging capabilities, respectively.  TES, XFM and SRX are scanning imaging beamlines with micron to submicron level resolutions.  CDI is a coherent diffractive imaging beamline with a high degree of specialization for Bragg CDI. Members of the Imaging and Microscopy Program share common tools and resources and engage in strong inter-beamline collaboration.

Position Description

NSLS-II has an opening for a beamline scientist to join the Imaging and Microscopy Program.  The candidate will collaborate with the HXN Beamline Team and the FXI Beamline Team, in order to strengthen the scientific program across these two beamlines.  The HXN Beamline has the world-leading multimodal scanning microscopy capability utilizing nano-XRF, nano-XRD, nano-XANES and ptychography (both in the transmission and Bragg modes).  It routinely produces a focused x-ray beam with a size below 15 nm and performs ptychographic imaging with sub-10 nm resolution for 2D and 3D characterization. The FXI beamline has world-leading nanoscale full-fielding imaging capability.  Using a transmission x-ray microscope (TXM), FXI offers 3D imaging speed down to ~10 seconds at ~30 nm resolution over a volume of (20 um)³.  This impressive 3D imaging throughput finds a wide range of scientific applications for non-destructive visualization of structural and chemical evolution under operando conditions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform user support at HXN and FXI Beamlines, exploring opportunities for high-impact, collaborative research with the users
• Develop user scientific program, taking advantage of the HXN and FXI capabilities.  Transform the existing capabilities to explore new scientific opportunities and create strong scientific synergy between beamlines by collaborating with the HXN and FXI Teams.
• Enhance nano-imaging capabilities for new applications (i.e. building new in-situ/operando cells or developing advanced imaging methods) for high impact science.
• Develop and refine workflow from measurements to analysis, enhancing productivity, reliability, and efficiency
• Interact with the other NSLS-II staff to perform commissioning, maintenance, and upgrading tasks at HXN and FXI
• Publish work in peer-reviewed journals and present results at scientific meetings.
• Explore opportunities for high-impact research using the capabilities within the imaging and microscopy program and the NSLS-II

Position Requirements
Required Knowledge, Skills, &Abilities

• Bachelor’s and 8+ years, or Master’s and 6+ years, or Doctorate and +2 years post-PhD with a degree in physics, materials science, chemistry, or a relevant field
• At least two (2) years of “hands-on” experience with x-ray imaging, x-ray microscopy, or with synchrotron experiments that are relevant to HXN or FXI Beamline
• Demonstrated expertise in experimental data analysis
• Good relevant publication record
• Ability to interact effectively in a team environment with a diverse group of scientists, engineers, technical staff, and users

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• PhD. degree is preferred.
• Extensive research experience with significant knowledge of x-ray microscopy and imaging, demonstrated in publication or analysis programs
• Significant instrumentation experience relevant to scanning XRF, XAS, ptychography, tomography, or relevant x-ray techniques
• Hands-on experience in sample preparation for nano-tomography
• Demonstrated expertise in microscopy/imaging analysis or simulations through publications or software
• Experience with user support at a synchrotron facility
• Demonstrated scientific or materials expertise in areas relevant to HXN or FXI capabilities
• Demonstrated proficiency in scientific programming (preferably Python) in areas relevant to HXN or FXI.

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is an equal opportunity employer that values inclusion and diversity at our Lab. We are committed to ensuring that all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a veteran, disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.