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Berkeley Lab (LBNL) addresses the world's most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe using interdisciplinary teams and by creating advanced new tools for scientific discovery. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab's scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source (ALS) is seeking an Optics Research Scientist. Working within the Photon Sciences Development Group of the ALS division, the incumbent functions as an experimental physicist engaging in the design, development, and deployment of x-ray optics and optical systems for synchrotron radiation research. The incumbent is expected to have significant experience of these areas and a demonstrated ability to independently carry out creative research in optics related to the ALS programmatic needs.

The ALS is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science national scientific user facility whose excellent scientific reputation, expert staff, and capabilities in the soft x-ray, hard x-ray, and infrared regimes attract more than 2,000 academic and industrial users each year in disciplines spanning physical, chemical, materials, biological, energy, and Earth sciences. It is one of five Berkeley Lab user facilities that serve a combined 11,000 users annually. The co-location of these user facilities – including the Molecular Foundry Nanoscale Science Research Center and the NERSC scientific computing center, as well as Berkeley Lab's outstanding programs in materials and chemical sciences among others – offers a prime environment for collaborative science. The ALS has been a global leader in soft x-ray science for more than two decades and is currently undertaking a new project (ALS-U) that will endow the facility with state-of-the-art x-ray capabilities. It's an exciting time to join our growing team!

The core values of the Advanced Light Source (ALS) reflect a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The ALS offers an environment that celebrates diversity and embraces inclusion. We seek candidates that would support a culture where all of the ALS's staff and scientists—regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, language, abilities/disabilities, socioeconomic status, geographic region, or other defining characteristics—should feel welcome and valued.

This position will be filled at the Research Scientist Career or Career-Track level depending on experience.

What You Will Do:

• Design of x-ray optical systems for the ALS program, including theoretical analysis, simulation, and specification.

• Implementation of designs in collaboration with the ALS engineering group.  This involves specification of optical and opto-mechanical systems, and work with engineering groups, such as mechanical, electrical, electronic and controls, to implement such systems.

• Develop a scientific research program in x-ray optical systems. aligned to the needs of the ALS program.  This might involve R&D related to development of new x-ray optics, or new concepts for optical systems to enhance the scientific program at the ALS.

• Disseminate research results via publications in peer reviewed journals; present results via oral presentations at various meetings and conferences as well as peer reviews of projects.

• Maintain current knowledge of and implement relevant Laboratory, Division, and Program Conduct of Operations and Quality assurance policies and procedures.

• Where users have access to beamline equipment, familiarize them with operation, coordinate and schedule experiments, ensure users are acquainted with ES&H regulations, and agree to abide by them, and give feedback to the ALS User Office on publications and user satisfaction.

• Develop comprehensive documentation for user groups to maximize efficient use of the experimental station.

What is Required:

• Ph.D. and/or equivalent experience in x-ray science or instrumentation.  A minimum of 5 years or more of work experience or equivalent combination of research and education is required at the post-graduate level.

• Significant experience in the design and implementation of beamline and endstation x-ray systems, particularly in the soft x-ray energy region.

• Extensive experience in modelling of soft x-ray optical systems.  This would include fluency in the use of standard optics codes, such as Shadow, Ray, SRW and other common codes, as well as the development of simulation codes.

• Significant experience in the properties of high brightness synchrotron radiation undulator sources.

• Significant experience in the design and implementation of soft x-ray optics and optical systems, optical systems for the transport of coherent VUV and soft x-ray light, and diffractive soft x-ray optics such as zone plates and gratings.

• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Experience in developing scientific instrumentation.

• Excellent scientific publishing record in the field of synchrotron radiation based x-ray optics.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Additional Desired Qualifications:

• Substantial expertise in the use of modern computing languages and environments such as C++, Python, MatLab, or IDL for simulation and data analysis.

The posting shall remain open until the position is filled, however for full consideration, please apply by close of business on October 20, 2018.

Notes:

• This is a full time career or career-track term appointment that may be renewed to a maximum of five years and that may be converted to career based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds, and ongoing operational needs.

• Full-time, M-F, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.

• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.

• Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. Berkeley Lab is in compliance with the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4.  Click here to view the poster and supplement: "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law."