Staff Scientist for the X-ray Laboratory, with a focus on diffraction analysis of advanced materials Full-time

Staff Scientist for the X-ray Laboratory, with a focus on diffraction analysis of advanced materials

Uppsala University, Department of Chemistry – Ångström Laboratory

The Department of Chemistry – Ångström conducts research and education in chemistry. The department has 270 employees and an annual turnover of SEK 300 million. Its six research programmes conduct highly successful research of international standing. We have a large number of externally funded research projects, often involving international collaboration, and we anticipate continued strong growth in our field. The department is responsible for education within engineering and Master's programmes.

The Inorganic Chemistry research programme at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström has focused on the synthesis and characterisation of new advanced materials, primarily metallic and ceramic materials, for applications in sustainable development. The fundamental structures and properties of these materials are studied using both experimental and theoretical methods. The research is therefore both fundamental and applied, including collaborations with industry. The scientific and technological field encompassing research into and development of new materials is interdisciplinary, but is primarily situated within inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, materials science and materials physics.

The Inorganic Chemistry research programme hosts Sweden's best-equipped X-ray laboratory for powder and thin-film diffraction. Powder diffraction is used for phase analysis and structure determination. Equipment is also available for in situ measurements at high and low temperatures. Grazing-incidence diffraction is used to enhance intensity from surface layers. Many thin films exhibit texture and residual stress, and equipment is available that provides high intensity for such measurements. The X-ray Laboratory serves as a shared resource within the Ångström Laboratory and is also open to external users. To a limited extent, we can also perform commissioned analyses for companies and other organisations.

Duties

A Staff Scientist in a research infrastructure performs development work and other research-support activities within the infrastructure. This includes providing specialised expertise, advice, technical and/or methodological services, and development. The role may also include other duties, such as research, teaching and administrative work related to the research infrastructure, as well as applying for external and internal funding for the infrastructure.

As part of the X-ray Laboratory, you will:

• Commission and maintain diffractometers and prepare them for internal and external users.
• Independently design and develop experimental methods in collaboration with the rest of the team.
• Present the X-ray Laboratory and related research results at scientific conferences and publish scientific results in peer-reviewed journals.
• Initiate and lead instrument upgrades at the X-ray Laboratory to expand the user community and broaden the research programmes.
• Work with academic partners to develop applications for new research grants.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health and quality programme requirements.

Requirements

Applicants must hold a PhD in a subject relevant to the position, or have acquired equivalent scientific expertise, and must demonstrate scientific, technical and methodological proficiency of substantial importance to the activities of the research infrastructure. Additional qualifications relevant to the duties of the position may also be required.

Applicants must have at least five years of documented technical experience in X-ray scattering of advanced materials and demonstrated ability to develop and perform advanced X-ray diffraction experiments.

• Education: A PhD in a field relevant to the position, or acquired and documented equivalent scientific competence.
• Experience:
  • Demonstrated high scientific, technical and methodological proficiency in X-ray diffraction.
  • Documented experience in developing and publishing experimental methods in X-ray diffraction, or equivalent methods.
  • Documented experience, as principal applicant, of applying for and obtaining beamtime, and conducting experiments at large-scale research infrastructures for X-ray scattering.
  • Experience in the installation and maintenance of complex analytical equipment for X-ray diffraction, or equivalent equipment.
  • Documented experience of securing research funding from external funders.
• Knowledge: Very high proficiency in at least three of the following methods:
  • Structure solution using diffraction methods; structural analysis using powder diffraction methods, including the Rietveld method.
  • Powder diffraction.
  • Total scattering with pair distribution function analysis.
  • Single-crystal diffraction.
  • Thin-film diffraction of both epitaxial and polycrystalline thin-film materials.
  • X-ray reflectivity.
  • In situ X-ray diffraction experiments.
  • Texture analysis using diffraction.
• Competences, skills and personal qualities:
  • Leadership ability. The successful candidate is expected to independently lead and develop the infrastructure and interact with the wider research environment.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • A strong safety awareness and very high laboratory competence.
  • Ability to communicate in English with an international scientific audience.
• Other requirements: Ability to take initiative, work independently, and contribute creatively to a collaborative team, both internally and externally.

Great importance will be attached to personal suitability. Consideration will be given, for example, to strong collaboration skills, drive and independence, as well as to how the applicant's experience and expertise are considered to complement and strengthen the infrastructure's activities and contribute to its future development.

Additional qualifications:

• Experience with complementary experimental methods, particularly neutron diffraction or electron diffraction.
• Programming skills in Python or an equivalent language.
• Teaching experience in diffraction methods.
• Ability to communicate in Swedish, both orally and in writing.
• Experience of leadership or laboratory responsibility for other types of research infrastructure is an advantage.

About the employment

The position is permanent, full-time. A probationary period may be applied. Start date by agreement. Location: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact Martin Sahlberg, martin.sahlberg@kemi.uu.se

Please submit your application by November 16 2026, UFV-PA 2026/2774