Research Engineer at Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory

Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory (CMAL) seeks an experienced experimentalist with a genuine interest in supporting users of SEM and XRD instruments and a special interest in hardware integration and control for development of in situ characterisation measurements generally. Chalmers goal is to develop into one of the leading universities in Europe. The successful candidate will be part of this journey by expanding his/her own understanding of experimental state-of-the-art methods for materials characterisation and collaboratively developing CMAL to promote excellence in materials science now and in the future.

About the position
As a research engineer you have two main responsibilities whereof the first is to support everyday SEM (50%) and XRD (25%) activities in CMAL. This includes giving basic training, support and advice to users of SEM and XRD concerning handling of the instruments and samples, and to discuss expected result in advance. The second responsibility concerns hardware/software integration/implementation to support the development of in situ and operando characterisation (25%) in CMAL. This includes integration of hardware and development of Labview routines for, e.g., control of fluid flows, regulation of temperature and control of electrical biasing as well as synchronisation of data from control and logging systems. Also new routines (Python coding) for handling of raw data, measurement calibrations and instrument corrections need to be developed. In general, data analysis is subject to a revolution due to developments of AI algorithms. Part of the work may be to stay in contact with such developments. Initially the SEM activities is prioritized and the XRD and programming part will be developed over time.

Information about the laboratory
Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory (CMAL) is an open infrastructure that provides Chalmers researchers and other stakeholders access to high-end and state-of-the-art instrumentation for materials characterisation. CMAL is hosted by the Department of Physics but collects material researchers across all departments at Chalmers. The organisation includes a reference group that assists the line organisation in the decision making, and research interests are collected through expert groups consisitng of active researchers as well as user meetings.

Equally important to instrumentation is to offer correspondingly excellent user support for efficient utilisation of the instruments as to deliver results with highest quality. CMAL has today four full time research engineers in the staff and a few persons supporting part time on specific/limited needs. On an annual basis, CMAL support ca 250 unique users in their measurements. CMAL will now expand the staff with one more full time research engineer as to support users and satisfy their needs of new methods.

In order to meet researchers' demands for available methods, the competence matrix within CMAL will be expanded to secure experimental relevance and quality through methodological developments. This includes holistic methods for correlative measurements and development of in situ and operando experiments.

At CMALwe believe in work under responsibility, i.e., each research engineer takes responsibility for planning and executing the work to mainain instruments and support users. Since its inauguration in 2015, CMAL has greatly developed and will continue to develop, which the successful candidate will be an important part of.

Qualifications
The successful candidate:
- has a PhD degree in experimental chemistry, physics, materials science or similar
- has a postdoctoral experience of experimental chemistry, physics or materials science, for example by employment as an academic postdoc or at a nonacademic organisation or a company.
- has skills in programming in Labview and Python
- is fluent in spoken and written English.

It is meritorious to have:
- Experience in materials characterisation (SEM, XRD or other) under in situ/operando conditions
- Experience of hardware/software integration e.g., for temperature regulation, control/mixing of fluid flows, data logging.

Contract terms
This position is a full-time permanent employment.

For more information about what we offer and the application procedure, please visit Chalmers website.



*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 





Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!