Instrument Scientist for HEIMDAL

ESSE - European Spallation Source ERIC; Lunds kommun; On-site; SEK 900,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market-competitive compensation

Pension contributions

Job summary

ESSE - European Spallation Source ERIC in Lund, Sweden, seeks an instrument scientist for the HEIMDAL diffractometer. The role focuses on finalizing installation, commissioning, and close collaboration with the core instrument team and ESS services to enable high‑quality neutron experiments.

The successful candidate will require a PhD in a relevant physical sciences area, strong diffraction expertise, and the ability to work in an international environment with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• PhD in experimental studies in physical sciences relevant to HEIMDAL.
• Practical experience in neutron powder diffraction.
• Working knowledge of data analysis software for diffraction: GSAS‑II, TOPAS, FullProf, Jana2006, PDFgui.
• Evidence of an independent research profile with publications.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Good interpersonal communication and presentation skills.
• Willingness to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Finalize the installation and participate in commissioning of the HEIMDAL instrument.
• Work closely with the core instrument team and partner institutions during integration.
• Engage with ESS technical services to ensure instrument readiness and safety.
• Interact with users to support experiments and data collection.

Skills

Neutron powder diffraction

Interpersonal communication

Collaborative work

English communication

Willingness to travel

Education

PhD in experimental physics or related (HEIMDAL)

Tools

GSAS-II

TOPAS

FullProf

Jana2006

PDFgui

Job description

About the Division

The Diffraction & Imaging Division consists of the scientific staff that lead instrument construction projects and the staff that will eventually execute the day‑to‑day operations of six neutron instruments.

Division Responsibilities

• Finalize the installation and commissioning of all instruments in the division
• Deliver state‑of‑the‑art scientific capabilities for internal and external users to enable the wider science community to advance science and technology
• Deliver scientific results from the neutron instruments in collaboration with the user community and other divisions in the science directorate
• Plan and implement further developments and upgrades of the instruments
• Push the state‑of‑the‑art capabilities of neutron instrumentation to make maximum benefit from the ESS source

Main Responsibilities

HEIMDAL is a multiscale diffractometer that will enable studies of functional materials across a wide range of length scales, from conventional powder diffraction to the small‑angle neutron scattering (SANS) regime (possible future upgrade). The construction of the diffractometer part of the instrument is ongoing and expected to be completed in 2027. The immediate mission is to finalize the installation of the instrument and take part in the commissioning of the instrument with and without neutrons. The instrument scientist will work closely with the core instrument team at ESS, comprising another instrument scientist, an instrument computational scientist, and an instrument operational engineer, and in strong interaction with partner institutions and ESS technical services. The successful candidate must be active in a scientific field of direct relevance to HEIMDAL.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• PhD in experimental studies in the physical sciences relevant to the HEIMDAL scientific programme, preferably in energy or nanoscaled materials.
• Practical experience in neutron powder diffraction
• Working knowledge of data analysis software for diffraction: GSAS‑II, TOPAS, FullProf, Jana2006, PDFgui
• Evidence of an independent research profile in relevant science areas supported by a publication record
• Ability to work collaboratively and individually
• Good interpersonal communication and presentation skills, and the ability to interact effectively with staff and users at all levels.
• Flexibility to requests to work out‑of‑hours to support users
• Responsible attitude to personal safety and the safety of others
• Willingness to international travel

Desirable Experience

• Experience with user operation at a large‑scale neutron facility
• Experience with time‑of‑flight neutron powder diffraction
• Experience with PDF and ideally SANS measurements
• Practical experience in operating complex sample environments relating to neutron powder diffraction

Work Environment

Experience of working in an international environment is preferred and excellent oral and written English skills are prerequisites. The work environment is characterised by fast growth, a fast pace, and a highly skilled international team. Personal initiative is essential.

Duration & Location

The position is a 3‑year fixed‑term role and the workplace will be situated in Lund, Sweden. Travelling is expected if the need arises.

Benefits

The role offers market‑competitive, individually tailored compensation, differentiated by role, responsibilities, individual skills, and achievements. Monthly pension contributions are included in addition to the salary.