Summer worker, Chemistry Project in the Spectroscopy Division

Big Science Sweden; Sweden; On-site; SEK 100,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading scientific research organization in Sweden seeks a summer worker for the Chemistry Project in the Spectroscopy Division. The role involves hands-on laboratory work with hazardous chemicals and various analysis techniques. The ideal candidate has a background in upper secondary education (naturvetenskapsprogram) and good communication skills in English. This position lasts 3 months, starting June 22, 2026, at ESS in Lund. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, with a passion for chemistry and collaboration in an international setting.

Qualifications

• Interest in chemistry and related lab techniques.
• Minimum age 18 years.
• Ability to work collaboratively in an international environment.

Responsibilities

• Handle hazardous chemicals and use lab techniques safely.
• Write experimental descriptions and calculate amounts and yields.
• Evaluate FT-IR spectra and X-ray diffraction patterns.
• Write experimental descriptions and calculate amounts and yields.

Skills

Good written and oral communication skills in English

Taking initiative

Education

Upper Secondary Education (Naturvetenskapsprogram)

Job description

Summer worker, Chemistry Project in the Spectroscopy Division

Datum: 14 april, 2026 Tid: 11:59

Placering: ESS

Mer information

About the position

We are now looking to appoint a summer worker in the Spectroscopy Division

The Spectroscopy group is responsible for 5 instruments that probe material dynamics using inelastic and quasi-elastic neutron scattering. A wide variety of behaviours can be probed to determine material functionalities ranging from diffusional or hopping motions of atoms, the rotational modes of molecules, sound modes and molecular vibrations, recoil in quantum fluids, magnetic and quantum excitations or even electronic transitions. The 5 instruments of the spectroscopy division are MIRACLES, a backscattering spectrometer, CSPEC, a cold flight spectrometer, BIFROST, the extreme environment spectrometer, T-REX, a bispectral time of flight spectrometer and VESPA, a vibrational spectrometer. This role will support the scientific developments on VESPA.

As a chemistry summer worker you will be involved in the following project:

Chemistry problem:

Ammonia borane (NH3BH3) is a material for chemical hydrogen storage, i.e. the material can be recharged after hydrogen release. There are some issues with the recharging and some attempts to optimize the system by even “charging” it more to make NH4BH4. Since the charging/release causes chemical changes in the structure, it is important to understand what is happening in the processes. Our collaborators want to perform high pressure neutron diffraction experiments to understand the changes in structure when going from NH3BH3 with high pressure of H2 to NH4BH4. Since natural boron (B) adsorbs neutrons quite strongly and hydrogen causes a background for neutron diffraction, it is necessary to make B11-isotope exchanged and deuterated ND311BD3. This is a reaction that involves four steps to go from boric 11B(OH)3 to Na(11B)D4 to ND3(11B)D3. The aim is to first try the synthesis using the natural isotopes (cheaper!) before making 500mg of the isotope enriched compound. I have done the synthesis before, so I know it works. However, we need to check again and optimize as much as we can.

This work involves handling hazardous chemicals (in a safe surrounding) as well as using several lab techniques, e.g. reflux, distillation, filtration, purification, recrystallization, working in inert atmosphere, as well as analysis techniques to assure the purity of the product (FT-IR, XRD). The time spend will be mostly in the laboratory but also writing the experimental description, calculating amounts and yields and evaluation FT-IR spectra and X-ray diffraction patterns.

About you

A suitable background for this position would be:

• Upper Secondary Education (gymnasiet): Naturvetenskapsprogram (NA) with an interest in chemistry.
• Good written and oral communication skills in English
• Minimum age 18 years.

We believe that you enjoy communicating and collaborating with a variety of people in an international environment. You are good at taking initiative and not afraid to ask questions.

Duration and location

This is a summer work position of 3 months.

Planned start date is 22 June 2026 or per agreement.

Your workplace is on-site at ESS in Lund, Sweden.