Post-doc in Notos Group

**Reference**

2025-219

**Deadline**

31/05/2025

**Division**

Experiments
- 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.

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.

For more information, you can take a look on our history watching this video:
We are offering a post-doc position within the NOTOS beamline group; NOTOS is an XAFS and diffraction beamline optimized for operando experiments with focus on catalysis, energy storage as well as materials growth. You will safely collaborate with the other group members and support staff to run, maintain, and develop the beamline as well as conduct research activities in collaboration with users and/or ALBA colleagues. As member of the NOTOS group, you will be part of the interdisciplinary team exploring the potentiality of a brand-new state-of-art hard X ray spectroscopy and diffraction bending magnet beamline; by building a user community of international reputation and developing new multimodal approach you will find a wide range of opportunity to develop your own science program and building a user community. This position will be of interest for enthusiastic scientists holding a degree in Physics Chemistry, Material Science, or scientific technology.
- Tasks
- Provide user support to public and proprietary users including performing Local Contact duties.
- Collaborate with your colleagues to maintain the beamline and contribute to the upgrade of the beamline within the ALBA II context.
- Engage with other groups of the Experiments Division and ALBA to find synergies between the programs and develop new opportunities for the facility.
- Develop your own scientific program in one of ALBA's focus areas, including energy materials, and catalysis, using X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques (XAS/XRD) in combination with other capabilities available at ALBA
- Engage in projects and collaborations of the transversal research program of the section (for example on energy storage and/or catalysis) at internal, national and European level. This may also include the initiation of new projects if appropriate.
- Requirements

Applications that do not present the aforementioned or required documentation during the selection procedure will not be accepted.
- ** Hold a PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Material Science or similar disciplines.**:

- ** Have English language knowledge, at least B2 level.**
- 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:

- ** Scientific and technical experience in XAS and XRD techniques. (20 points)**:

- ** Publication record in a scientific field like catalysis, energy storage or environmental sciences with strong emphasis in XAS/XRD results. (20 points)**

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 assess the following aspects, among others:

- ** Capability of running synchrotron exp