Search for early-career assistant beamline scientist roles focused on X-ray diffraction in Lemont, with a Ph.D. in physics required, strong programming skills in Python, and offering a salary of at least $90,000.

Okay, I've searched for early-career assistant beamline scientist roles focused on X-ray diffraction in Lemont, requiring a Ph.D. in physics, strong programming skills in Python, and starting at a salary of at least $90,000. I found 23 positions matching your criteria.

Assistant Beamline Scientist

Lemont, IL

PhD

Python

$90000+

Can you help me to analyze the job description and company culture?

Sure. Here's the analysis:

Job Analysis:

The Assistant Beamline Scientist role at Argonne National Laboratory is primarily focused on advancing diffraction techniques through the X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (XPCS) program. The key responsibility is to develop scientific opportunities that utilize coherent X-rays to probe the structural and dynamic attributes of condensed matter. Success in this role requires proficiency in X-ray diffraction, hands-on experience at synchrotron facilities, and the capability to support user operations while fostering a collaborative environment for scientists. Candidates will encounter challenges related to the complexity of experiments, data analysis, and the necessity to communicate effectively across multidisciplinary teams. Metrics for success may include contribution to user satisfaction, quality of published research, and innovation in diffraction techniques, all while aligning with Argonne’s mission of impactful scientific discovery.

Company Analysis:

Argonne National Laboratory operates in the forefront of scientific research and engineering, primarily under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy. It holds a prestigious position as a leader in addressing complex scientific and societal challenges through innovative research and collaborative industry engagement. The culture at Argonne appears to be one of empowerment, valuing safety, respect, and teamwork—essential in a research-driven setting where collaboration is paramount. The Assistant Beamline Scientist will fit within a sophisticated team of researchers, expected to directly engage with both senior scientists and emerging talent. This role not only supports ongoing user experiments but also contributes to establishing a vibrant user community, making it integral to the lab’s objectives. The strategic alignment of this hire revolves around enhancing Argonne's capabilities in condensed matter studies, thus supporting the laboratory's overarching mission and driving further innovation.

Mock up some interview questions based on the job description.

Absolutely. Here are some mock interview questions that could come up:

Tell me about a time when you had to troubleshoot an experiment that wasn't going as planned. What was the challenge, and how did you resolve it?
Can you describe your experience working with X-ray diffraction techniques, particularly in a synchrotron facility?
Share an instance when you collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to achieve a research goal. What role did you play?
Discuss a project where you had to analyze complex data sets. What was your approach, and what tools did you utilize?
How would you approach developing a new scientific user opportunity for the XPCS beamline?
Describe your familiarity with programming languages like Python. How have you applied coding in your research and data analysis?
Imagine you receive conflicting feedback from users at the beamline regarding the experimental setup. How would you handle this situation?
If you were tasked with mentoring a new user at the beamline, what specific guidance would you offer to ensure their success?
Why are you interested in pursuing a position at Argonne National Laboratory?
What aspects of Argonne's mission resonate with you, and how do you see yourself contributing to it?
What do you believe sets Argonne apart from other research laboratories in the field?
How do you think your research interests align with the goals of the Dynamics and Structure group?
What questions do you have about the work culture at Argonne, particularly regarding collaboration and support among researchers?
Can you tell us about a significant scientific achievement from your previous work that you are particularly proud of?
What are the key elements you think are essential for someone to thrive in a research-driven environment like Argonne?

Job Details

Overview Company

Assistant Beamline Scientist

$90k/y-$143k/y

Argonne National Laboratory

9 days ago

Highlight

OnsiteFull-timeEntry

Summary

Argonne National Laboratory is seeking an Assistant Beamline Scientist to join their team in Lemont, IL. The role involves advancing diffraction techniques and supporting user activities at the XPCS beamline.

About the Role

As an Assistant Beamline Scientist, you will be responsible for advancing diffraction techniques by leveraging the coherence properties of X-rays to study the structure and dynamics in condensed matter. You will support user activities at the beamline and contribute to building a vibrant user community for surface and interface science and techniques. This position requires daily on-site presence at the Argonne campus in Lemont, Illinois, to support beamline operations and user experiments.

About You

Required:

Ph.D. in physics or a related field, with expertise in X-ray diffraction such as micro- or nano-diffraction.
Hands-on experience working at diffraction beamlines at synchrotron facilities.
Strong skills in data analysis and ability to program in languages such as Python for performing experiments and analyzing data.
Strong communication skills for working in a multidisciplinary team environment.
Ability to synthesize research findings into work products such as articles for publication in scientific journals, technical reports, presentations at professional conferences, etc.
Strong self-motivation and interest in researching relevant topics.

Preferred:

A background in coherent scattering or diffraction—such as Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction.
Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Competitive compensation with an expected hiring range of $90k–$143k.

Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne National Laboratory, one of the U.S. Department of Energy's national laboratories for science and engineering research, employs 3,400 employees, including 1,400 scientists and engineers, three-quarters of whom hold doctoral degrees. Argonne's annual operating budget of around $1 billion supports upwards of 200 research projects. Since 1990, Argonne has worked with more than 600 companies and numerous federal agencies and other organizations.

Argonne's mission is to apply a unique mix of world-class science, engineering and user facilities to deliver innovative research and technologies. We create new knowledge that addresses the most important scientific and societal needs of our nation.

We actively seek opportunities to work with industry to transfer our technologies to the marketplace through licensing, joint research and many other collaborative relationships.

Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. We are located on 1,500 acres (6.9 sq. km) in southwest DuPage County, Illinois 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Chicago. The site is completely encircled by the beautiful Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve.

Lemont, IL