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Postdoctoral Research Associate for X-ray absorption spectroscopy beamlines at Elettra 2.0
Deadline: 06 September 2026Ref: DA/26/28
Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste is an international multidisciplinary research center offering international users access to synchrotron and free-electron laser radiation for the characterization and processing of matter. The extremely high quality of the light sources and beamlines has set new performance records and has been producing results of great scientific and technological interest. In order to allow the laboratory to remain competitive in the next 20 years, an entirely new synchrotron radiation source - Elettra 2.0 - belonging to the new generation of storage rings (DLSR or Diffraction Limited Storage Ring) is being installed and will join the already operating free-electron source FERMI in the next months. The new source will exhibit a major increase in the brilliance and coherence fraction of the photon beams. The Elettra 2.0 optics is based on our enhanced symmetric six bend achromat structure (S6BA-E) with a 12-fold symmetry and an emittance of 200 pm-rad at 2.4 GeV. The new structure creates also straight sections in the arcs permitting the installation of additional insertion devices, thus increasing the number of beamlines. Existing beamlines are being upgraded and new beamlines constructed to take full advantage of the characteristics of Elettra 2.0. See http://www.elettra.eu for more information.
The XAFS beamline at Elettra, dedicated to X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the hard X-ray range, was installed on a bending magnet source and covered the 2.4 – 27.0 keV energy range, thus allowing the study of a large number of elements, from sulphur to bismuth . The optical scheme guaranteed a stable and spatially homogeneous beam over the whole energy range, and the detection system assured high quality data in transmission and fluorescence mode. These characteristics met the needs of a large number of researchers for the electronic and local structural characterization of systems relevant in many scientific fields: from materials science to solid state physics, from electrochemistry to environmental and earth sciences.
In the framework of the Elettra 2.0 project, the XAFS beamline is being moved to a different position with a source equivalent to the previous one. The control system, the acquisition strategy and the infrastructure for solid-gas interaction experiments will be upgraded, allowing for further developments of the sample environment. At the same time, a completely new beamline dedicated to XAS (XAS-miniWiggler), will be built. The beamline will cover the energy range from 4.7 to 41.5 keV with focusing capability down to 100 x 100 mm2 at the sample position. At the endstation, in addition to standard XAS applications, an analyzer for High Energy Resolution Fluorescence Detected-XAS (HERFD-XAS) and X ray Emission Spectroscopy (XES) will be implemented.
See http://www.elettra.eu/elettra-beamlines/xafs.html for more information.
The successful candidate will join the beamline staff in commissioning and running of the X-ray absorption spectroscopy beamlines and he/she will be involved in the upgrade program of XAFS and XAS-mW beamlines.
After the commissioning phase, she/he is expected to develop her/his own research program using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and to promote the capabilities and scientific accomplishments of the beamlines. At the same time, he/she is expected to provide daily high-quality support to external users.
In addition, she/he will have the possibility to pursue her/his personal research by using the available instrumentation during dedicated in-house research beamtime. She/he is also expected to be involved in submitting proposals to suitable funding agencies and establish new research collaborations.
A PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science or related disciplines obtained no more than 6 years prior to the application deadline is required, together with proven experience in X-ray absorption spectroscopy and related techniques obtained during postdoctoral activity in academic institutions and/or private companies.
Coding capabilities using Python or equivalent languages and/or knowledge of High Energy Resolution Fluorescence Detected-XAS (HERFD-XAS) and X ray Emission Spectroscopy (XES) techniques are highly desirable.
The following competences will be also considered as additional assets:
- experience developing and commissioning complex instrumentations and experimental setups;
- previous experience as local contact at synchrotron XAS beamlines;
- knowledge of advance characterization techniques like XANES simulation and ab initio calculations (e.g. DFT).
Good time management skills and ability to prioritize are expected, together with strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to interact with staff and facility users at all levels, as well as to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team-oriented environment.
Good oral and written communication skills in English are essential.
