2 year Postdoctoral/Temporary Scientist at CoSAXS, MAX IV

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. The University has 40 000 students and more than 8 000 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.


MAX IV is a Swedish national large-scale research laboratory hosted by Lund University. It provides scientists from Sweden as well as internationally, with state-of-the-art instrumentation for research in areas such as engineering, physics, structural biology, chemistry and nanotechnology. Fully developed it will receive more than 2 000 scientists annually, conducting ground-breaking experiments in materials and life sciences using the brilliant X-ray light.



The CoSAXS beamline is a state-of-the-art multipurpose Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) instrument with opportunities to use the high brilliance, low divergence and high coherence properties of the diffraction limited MAX IV 3 GeV ring.

It offers 2D SAXS/WAXS detectors and a broad pool of sample environments to meet the demands of a large and broad community of users. CoSAXS is currently commissioning with expert users but will shortly open to general users.



Objectives & tasks

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher/temporary scientist to combine in situ uniaxial and biaxial mechanical testing with x-ray scattering to exploit the technical advances at the CoSAXS beamline.  Engqvist et al., Lund University, have developed combined methods for the multi-scale analysis of in situ deformation which can be applied to a wide range of soft matter materials (e.g. polymers and biological materials). You will develop these capabilities on CoSAXS to make them available for the general user community, in particular the construction, installation and control of the experimental sample environment, bi-dimensional scattering (SAXS/WAXS) data reduction and analysis procedures, and Digitial Image Correlation (DIC) of the macroscopic deformation. This is expected to be about 50 % of your working time.  You will also be part of the CoSAXS team, supporting user activities and further development of the beamline.

Specific tasks for this project are:

- To develop the capabilities for in-situ mechanical testing at CoSAXS by integrating an existing experimental protocol for uniaxial loading with multi-scale deformation measurements in diverse materials [Engqvist et al. 2014 and 2016]
- Expand the experimental protocol to enable simultaneous SAXS and WAXS and fast 2D spatial mapping with reliable synchronization of the recorded data.
- Develop a novel device for in-situ in-plane biaxial loading [Engqvist et al. 2014 and 2016]. Develop analysis protocols for this type of experiments.
- Support operational and user activities at the CoSAXS beamline, especially those related to in situ mechanical testing and real time processing of soft matter materials.

You must expect to perform some work out of normal working hours, including weekends, during MAX IV operation cycles. There will be occasional requirements to travel within Sweden and overseas.

The successful postdoc/temporary scientist will join the team at CoSAXS and will work in close contact with researchers at MAX IV and at the Division of Solid Mechanics, LTH, at Lund University. Supervisors will be Tomás Plivelic at CoSAXS/MAX IV laboratory and Jonas Engqvist at the Division of Solid Mechanics. Synchrotron activities will be supported by beamtime applications at MAX IV and eventually other large-scale facilities.

Qualifications

- PhD degree in physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering or equivalent.
- Experience and competence in small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis with solid or glassy materials with corresponding publications.
- Good knowledge in mechanics and experience in mechanical materials testing procedures.
- Excellent programming skills using Matlab, Python or C++. Where possible, please provide example code, e.g. github link.
- Fluent in English (written and spoken) with excellent written and verbal communications skills.
- Ability to work in teams and interact with a diverse group of scientists and technical staff in a dynamic environment.

 Desirable

- Experience in manipulating and interpreting large data sets and data management.
- Experience in developing data analysis algorithms
- Experience with SAXS or XRD data modelling in polymeric materials.
- Experience in mechanical design
- Experience in using CAD-software or equivalent
- Experience in instrument control and sample environment development

On call services may apply in the future.

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