Post doc at LOREA

Institution
ALBA is the Spanish synchrotron light source, a large research infrastructure operating ten beamlines, complementary facilities, and an Electron Microscopy Center, this last in partnership with other institutions. Currently constructing multiple more beamlines, expanding the Electron Microscopy Center, and integrating advanced data analytics, it sums up a wide range of infrastructures geared toward finding solutions to societal challenges.

Located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain), it is funded by the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) and the Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Recerca i Universitats). The synchrotron light produced by 3 GeV electrons is used by thousands of researchers to analyse and understand the properties and functionality of matter, spanning a wide variety of fields, such as catalytic research, health, energy production/storage, environmental research, communication technologies, or cultural heritage.

Our highly motivated staff works in a multidisciplinary work environment with an atmosphere formed by lived diversity, inclusion and respect for our colleagues. One of the goals of our gender equality plan is to reach parity within the Consortium’s different divisions and offices, and several actions have been taken to encourage applications from women mostly in scientific, engineer and technical job positions. Furthermore, located close to Barcelona, in a natural park and well connected by car and public transportation, with excellent connectivity to the world and an employer who understands the importance of life-work balance.

Facing an upgrade to ALBA II, a 4th generation facility, which will increase dramatically brightness and coherent flux, ALBA is in a phase of growth and dynamics.

Being a part of the ALBA team will promote your career and will give you the opportunities to explore new territories.

As the successful candidate, you will work with a team of ALBA experts, external collaborators and users to fully develop the capabilities of the LOREA instrument, a new beamline at ALBA, dedicated to Angle-Resolved Photo Emission Spectroscopy (ARPES), demonstrate its scientific impact by investigating the electronic structure of Quantum Materials, and contribute to the development of a long-term vision for ARPES on a 4th generation synchrotron. You will develop your own scientific program aligned with the groups, sections, and facilities goals and at the same time support users mostly, but not exclusively, aligned with your own scientific interests. In a diverse, highly interactive team, you will have excellent conditions to refine your scientific expertise, the technical and computational background, and most importantly build a broad and carrying network for your future scientific career. You will build national and international recognition by using opportunities to publish and present your scientific results and approaches at conferences, workshops and seminars.

Tasks
• Provide support to the general users of BL20-LOREA as Local Contact.
• Develop your own scientific program which will be strongly aligned with the scientific program of the beamline and in the larger context of the section and facility. This includes developing the research plan, contributing to the preparation of experimental proposals applying for general user beamtime at ALBA and/or other facilities, and contributing to the analysis and publication of the results.
• Participate in the maintenance, commissioning and upgrade activities of the beamline.
• Participate in the final commissioning of the Spin-Resolved ARPES, and/or to the initiation of the “operando” ARPES program.
• Engage in the ongoing beamline research program, national and European projects and collaborations. This may also include the initiation of new projects if appropriate.
• Contribute to develop the ARPES program within ALBA II, the upgrade project of ALBA to a 4th generation synchrotron.

Requirements
The requirements for participation must be met on the date of the deadline for the submission of applications and will be accredited by means of the CV attached to it, without prejudice to the power of the selection body to require the contribution of the originals of the certifications accrediting the qualifications, training and work experience invoked in the CV.
The candidate has to:
• Hold a PhD in Physics, or Chemistry, or Material Science or similar disciplines.
Everyone who meets the requirements will be admitted for the selective process. This position is reserved for those candidates having the legal status of person with disabilities, with a degree of disability equal or greater than 33%. In case of one or more admitted applicants with this status of disability, these candidates will be evaluated at first. In the event that no candidate with the status of disability is finally selected for the position, the selection process shall continue and the rest of the applicants will be evaluated.

Selection Process Development
The selection will be carried out through the competition-opposition system. As a first phase, an analysis of the curriculum will be carried out (assessment of previous experience and/or scientific history, degree, training and other professional information relevant to the position). Career breaks or variations in the chronological order of CVs will be regarded as an evolution of a career, and consequently, as a contribution to the professional development.
The assessment of the CV in the competition phase will be scored up to 40 points, which will consider the following aspects:
– Hands-on experiences with ARPES experiments, data analysis, and theory. 15pts
– Previous experience in experiments on Quantum Materials under UHV conditions. 10 pts
– Experience or training of UHV sample environment. 8 pts
– Experience or training of programming languages especially Python. 7 pts
The best rated candidates, at least two if possible, will be invited to an interview where the technical competence, knowledge, skills and professional experience linked to the position will be assessed, with a total score of 60 points. A minimum of 30 points must be obtained out of a total of 60 points to be eligible.
Provided they meet the minimum requirements and have ranked among the top five after the assessment of the CV phase, at least one person from the underrepresented gender in the division/office will be interviewed.
The interview will include at least:
– Presentation of professional experience (15 pts)
– Auto-assessment of soft skills (10 pts)
– A good level of English both written and spoken is a must. The working language at ALBA is English (5 pts)
– Vision of the job position. Ability to propose and conduct an independent research program using the LOREA instrumentation, ideally focused towards two-dimensional Quantum Materials or spintronics systems. (20 pts)
– Motivation for applying (10 pts)
The merits will be accredited by means of the CV attached to the application. The selection board may require accreditation by additional documentation, originals or certified copies confirming the experience invoked in the CV.
In case of a tied final score, the position will be awarded to the person who belongs to the most underrepresented gender in the corresponding Division and subsidiarily to the overall company.
If necessary, alternates of the members of the selection board will be appointed by the president of the selection process, and the change will be published in the announcement.
The resolution of the selection procedure will be carried out within a maximum period of six months from the deadline for submitting applications for participation.
The selection process may be declared vacant if the selection board considers not to have found eligible candidates for the position although they might meet the requirements to participate in the selection process specified in the offer.

Other information
Temporary contract (3+3 years).