Beamline Scientist

About the role

The Beamline Scientist will contribute to the advancement of the ISS beamline at NSLS-II, a world-class synchrotron facility. The ISS beamline specializes in high-flux, high-resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy, offering unique capabilities for catalysis, environmental science, quantum materials, and life sciences research.

Responsibilities

• Provide user support for the ISS beamline.
• Perform beamline operation, maintenance, upgrade, commissioning, and troubleshooting.
• Develop new techniques and methods to advance ISS capabilities.
• Work closely with beamline scientists, engineers, and technical staff to ensure reliable, safe, and efficient operation.
• Engage with a broad user community, enabling high-impact science and fostering new collaborations.
• Establish and maintain an independent research program aligned with the strategic directions for the ISS beamline and the NSLS-II Spectroscopy Program.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field with a minimum of 2 years post-PhD related experience.
• A minimum of 4 years of relevant experience at a synchrotron or large-scale user facility.
• Demonstrated expertise in XAS and high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy.
• Strong programming skills in Python, with experience in scientific data acquisition, analysis, or automation.
• Working knowledge of beamline control, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
• Strong publication record demonstrating impactful research in XAS and/or X-ray emission spectroscopy along with growing international recognition.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.

Preferred

• Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field with a minimum of 4 years related post-PhD experience.
• Expertise in X-ray Emission Spectroscopy and Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering.
• Proven experience in instrumentation development, particularly in X-ray optics or spectrometer design and implementation.
• Experience with in-situ/operando experiments and high-throughput or time-resolved data acquisition approaches.
• Experience with beamline control and data acquisition systems, e.g. EPICS.
• Background in scientific software development, including user-facing tools or data pipelines.
• Experience supervising students, postdocs, or leading collaborative research efforts.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, manage projects, and deliver results.