FAXTOR Beamline scientist

ALBA is the Spanish synchrotron light source, a large research infrastructure operating ten beamlines, complementary facilities, and an Electron Microscopy Center, this last in partnership with other institutions. Currently constructing multiple more beamlines, expanding the Electron Microscopy Center, and integrating advanced data analytics, it sums up a wide range of infrastructures geared toward finding solutions to societal challenges.

Located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain), it is funded by the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) and the Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Recerca i Universitats). The synchrotron light produced by 3 GeV electrons is used by thousands of researchers to analyse and understand the properties and functionality of matter, spanning a wide variety of fields, such as catalytic research, health, energy production/storage, environmental research, communication technologies, or cultural heritage.

Our highly motivated staff works in a multidisciplinary work environment with an atmosphere formed by lived diversity, inclusion and respect for our colleagues. Located close to Barcelona in a natural park and well connected by car and public transportation, with excellent connectivity to the world and an employer who understands the importance of life-work balance.

Facing an upgrade to ALBA II, a 4th generation facility, which will increase dramatically brightness and coherent flux, ALBA is in a phase of growth and dynamics. Being a part of the ALBA team will promote your career and will give you the opportunities to explore new territories.

The FaXToR beamline, currently under construction and commissioning, will be devoted to fast hard X-ray computerized tomography (CT) and radiography in both
stationary and dynamical studies taking place in the μm- and subsecond- scale. Both absorption and phase-contrast imaging modalities will be routinely used at the
beamline. The beamline foreseen to starts user’s operation by the beginning of 2024.

We are offering a Beamline Scientist position within the FaXToR beamline group to develop the beamline capabilities and support the user program. Your key role will bridge the gap between technology development and innovative hardware/software solutions for phase-contrast X-ray imaging and dynamic experiments with focus on biological systems. You will collaborate with the staff of the other beamlines within the life sciences section. By working in an interdisciplinary and diverse team of engineers, technicians, and scientists, you will complete your expertise and learn new approaches.

In a later stage and as part of the FaXToR team, you will bring the beamline into user operation. As a beamline scientist, you will be involved in the support of the user community program. This will include Local Contact duties for selected experiments, engagement in the operation and maintenance of the beamline infrastructure and all experimental facilities of the beamline, and development of new protocol in data acquisition and processing. As a Local Contact, you will take ownership of providing excellence in user support, by guiding the user in the preparation phase, ensuring optimum experimental conditions during the experiment, and offering analytical help and, depending on the degree of collaboration, scientific discussions during the analysis phase. You will also analyze the operation conditions and provide to management improvement suggestions including instrumentation and software improvements, operational management adjustments, support strategies, and user access improvements. Finally, you will also contribute in evaluating the beamline operational performance.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to build your own research program as partner of larger collaborations, you will create new capabilities like technique
developments, analysis or simulation tools, or instrumentation improvements and additions; the research program will give you a platform to test these capabilities and demonstrate their effectiveness and uniqueness to solve an important scientific problem. You will disseminate the progress of your research in scientific meetings and peer reviewed publications, proving your scientific leadership, demonstrating the larger existing and potential user community the effectiveness of the approach. As a good team player with excellent soft skills, you will engage with staff and management not only of the FaXToR group but all ALBA searching and exploring scientific and technological synergies. With the same spirit you will also shape your relationship with the user community.

For more information, you can take a look on our history watching this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHMqiH4qBAo

* Develop innovative hardware and software tools for phase-contrast X-ray bio-imaging and dynamic protocol, together with the rest of the scientific beamline staff and the corresponding engineers and technicians.
* Provide support to the general and industrial users of the FaXToR beamline as a Local Contact.
* Contribute in the establishment of the data flow infrastructure and processing pipeline together with the scientific FaXToR beamline staff and the IT and scientific data management groups.
* Develop and demonstrate the value of a scientific program in hard X-ray imaging, preferentially in bio-imaging) (including if needed beamline instrumentation) that takes advantage of and expands the capabilities of the beamline.
* Develop your own scientific program within the research lines of the FaXToR beamline and, in the larger context, of the section and the facility.
* Participate and drive various activities to develop the future imaging program at ALBA II.
* Initiate and participate in activities aiming at building the future FaXToR user program.
* Collaborate in the management of the biological laboratories at ALBA, to support the research of the visiting groups, as well as the research carried out in-house. The laboratories, which currently occupy an area of more than 200m2, include a general laboratory, a cold room at 4 C and two dedicated laboratories with biosafety level 2.

The requirements for participation must be met on the date of the deadline for the submission of applications and will be accredited by means of the CV attached to it, without prejudice to the power of the selection body to require the contribution of the originals of the certifications accrediting the qualifications, training and work experience invoked in the CV.

Applications that do not present the aforementioned or required documentation during the selection procedure will not be accepted.

Expected skills and knowledge:
* PhD in physics, chemistry, bioscience or related discipline.
* Hands-on knowledge in micro-CT instrumentation and/or experiments.

The working language at ALBA is English. A good level of English both written and spoken is strictly required.

Everyone who meets the requirements is eligible for the position. This position is reserved for those candidates having the legal status of person with disabilities, with a degree of disability equal or greater than 33%. In case of one or more eligible applicants with this status of disability, these candidates will be evaluated at first. In the event that no candidate with the status of disability is finally selected for the position, the selection process shall continue and the rest of the applicants will be evaluated.

Selection Process Development

The selection will be carried out through the competition-opposition system.

As a first phase, an analysis of the curriculum will be carried out (assessment of previous experience and / or scientific history, degree, training and other professional information relevant to the position). The assessment of the CV in the competition phase will be scored up to 40 points, and will consider the following aspects:
• Experience on hard X-ray tomography methods. (15 points)
• Experience on phase contrast hard X-ray imaging and dynamic experiments, preferentially applied to bioscience. (10 points)
• Experience in a synchrotron radiation facility. (5 points)
• Publication record on X-ray imaging system and biological applications. (10 points)

The best rated candidates, at least three if possible, will be invited to an interview where the technical competence, knowledge, skills and professional experience linked to the position will be assessed, with a total score of 60 points. A minimum of 30 points must be obtained out of a total of 60 points to be eligible.

The interview will assess the following aspects, among others:
• Relevant scientific publication record.
• Experience in implementing innovative solutions for hard X-ray imaging and/or micro-CT beamlines.
• Experience in performing experiments in different synchrotrons.
• Sound experience in operating micro-CT systems.
• Sound experience in correlative X-ray bio-imaging.
• Experience in students’ supervision.
• Knowledge in data work flow programming.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to interact with providers and facility users.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Good organizational and planning skills.
• Self-motivation.
• Good level of English.

The merits will be accredited by means of the CV attached to the application. The selection body may require accreditation by additional documentation, originals or certified copies confirming the experience invoked in the CV.

In case of a tied final score, the position will be awarded to the person who belongs to the most underrepresented gender in the corresponding Division and subsidiarily to the overall company.

If necessary, alternates of the members of the Board Selection will be appointed by the president of the selection process, and the change will be published in the
announcement.

The resolution of the selection procedure will be carried out within a maximum period of six months from the deadline for submitting applications for participation.

The selection process may be declared vacant if the selection body considers not to have found suitable candidates for the position although they might meet the minimum requirements.

Temporary contract until definitive coverage.

The Selection Board is composed by the following members: Klaus Attenkofer, Judith Juanhuix Gibert, Alessandra Patera, Eva Pereiro López and Llibert Ribó Mor.