Staff Scientist - National Center For Electron Microscopy Facility

The Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s (LBNL) is a national user facility for nanoscale science and one of the U.S. Department of Energy's Nanoscale Science Research Centers. We are currently seeking a highly qualified candidate to join our team as a Staff Scientist at the National Center for Electron Microscopy (NCEM) Facility. The Molecular Foundry is a multidisciplinary research center at the forefront of nanoscale science, providing state-of-the-art expertise and instrumentation to a diverse, international community.

We encourage candidates of all experience levels to apply. The Molecular Foundry is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we seek candidates who will contribute to broadening and deepening our community both scientifically and culturally.

This position is open to both career-track and career-level applications based on the experience and accomplishments of the candidate.

Career-track Scientist Responsibilities:

• Maintain and develop a diverse and inclusive working environment using and building upon existing programs within the Molecular Foundry (https://foundry.lbl.gov/diversity-inclusion/) and Berkeley Lab (https://diversity.lbl.gov/ideaberkeleylab/)
• Provide users with support through your own efforts, hands-on and with your expert knowledge, in the area of electron microscopy.
• Share in user-related operations, maintenance/administration, and development responsibilities within the NCEM Facility.
• Collaborate with staff members to provide scientific support for users and create and participate in collaborative research efforts beyond the abilities of a single PI laboratory.
• Utilize a new analytical aberration corrected STEM instrument, including the integration of both electron and optical spectroscopic measurements in a user environment.
• Supervise, mentor, and coach scientific and technical staff as appropriate.
• Communicate with users of varying levels of experience in electron microscopy with empathy and professionalism.
• Provide technical direction to graduate students, postdocs, and research associates as appropriate, and assist in the management of research projects.
• Develop a thriving multidisciplinary user program, attracting users from industry, academia, and national labs, through the development of unique expertise and capabilities.
• Design and lead a robust individual research program related to the Molecular Foundry's research themes (for details: https://foundry.lbl.gov/about/research-themes/) as a principal investigator (PI).
• Prepare scientific data for publication in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at seminars and conferences.
• Maintain a safe working environment and demonstrate respect for environmental protection, health and safety, and help instill those aspects in all staff and users of the Molecular Foundry.
• Work with NCEM staff to maintain NCEM’s suite of advanced electron microscopes, as well as develop standard operating procedures and training material for users.

Career Staff Scientist Responsibilities:

• In addition to the responsibilities above, a career staff scientist will be expected to perform all of the duties above with a higher level of independence and autonomy and have demonstrated abilities for the above tasks.

Required Qualifications for Career-track Scientist position

• Excellent oral and written communications skills,, and the desire and ability to collaborate with multiple research groups across disciplines.
• Ability and interest to mentor, educate, and support other scientists.
• Expertise in any or several analysis approaches or tools relevant to image or spectrum analysis.
• High level of technical proficiency using advanced electron microscopes
• Ability to analyze and interpret data, and implement custom analysis routines for electron microscopy data.
• Productivity in areas related to electron microscopy research, demonstrated by (for example) publications, talks at national and international meetings, and patents.
• Research experience and an established track record working in electron microscopy research at academic, industrial, or other research institutions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Safety conscious with experience practicing positive safety culture.
• Demonstrated ability to carry out independent research in a diverse, collaborative environment.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and willingness to champion user projects.
• Proficiency in spectroscopy techniques relevant to TEM, such as electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) or energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX/EDS)
• A solid foundation in TEM techniques, including operation, data acquisition, and image analysis, is necessary. Knowledge of advanced TEM techniques such as high-resolution imaging, electron diffraction, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).
• Experimental research skills including the ability to troubleshoot instrumentation.
• Ph.D. or equivalent degree in physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering, or another discipline relevant to electron microscopy characterization and nanoscience, and/or equivalent years of relevant work experience.
• Capable of leading independent research and development work in the field of study closely aligned with the needs of the NCEM Facility of the Molecular Foundry.

In Addition To The Requirements above, A Career Staff Scientist:

• Strong track-record in multiple of the following areas: publications, successfully raising research funds, invited, talks at national and international meetings, and patents.
• Recognized technical expertise and leadership role with the ability to carry out independent research in a diverse, collaborative environment.
• Productivity in areas related to electron microscopy and nanoscience research, demonstrated by publications, talks at national and international meetings, and/or patents.
• Recognized as an active impact contributor in their own field as perceived internally by management and peers and externally through conference presentations, publications in refereed journals, invited lectures and awards.
• Must have at least 5 years research experience and an established track record working at academic, industrial or other research institutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Skill working with tools and electronic testing.
• Experience with integration of optical measurements into a TEM, correlative ex-situ electron and optical spectroscopic measurements, or laser-based spectroscopic techniques.
• Experience with instrumentation and writing software to interface with hardware.
• For the Career-track scientist position, 1 to 5 years research experience beyond the customary highest degree appropriate to the candidate’s discipline.
• Experience working in a collaborative facility environment that emphasizes team science

For full consideration, please apply by September 15th, 2023.

Want to learn more about Berkeley Lab's Culture, Benefits and answers to FAQs? Please visit: https://recruiting.lbl.gov/

Requested Application Materials:

Total of 5 documents:

• What is your understanding of IDEA?
• What contributions to IDEA Principles have you made in the past?
• Research Statement: Please provide a no more than 5-page research statement outlining the research you intend to conduct over the next 5 years and what qualifies you to do so for consideration in the application process for the scientist position.
• User Program Vision: Please include a separate 1-page document outlining the kind of user program you envision building up in this role. This should include information on the scientific community you want to attract as users based on your own scientific expertise, and the unique capabilities that you envision building up and what scientific community these might attract outside your own scientific community
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Cover Letter.
• IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability) Statement: Please include a no more than 2 page document addressing the following three questions.
• What are your plans for applying and promoting IDEA in this role?

Notes:

• Work will be primarily performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.
• This position is expected to pay $10,084.00 - $16,135.00/month, which fits within the full salary range of $10,084.00 - $24,201.00/month for the Materials Staff Scientist. Salary for this position will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications, plus alignment with the internal peer group.
• This position will be hired at a level commensurate with the business needs and the skills, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• This is a full-time, 2-year, career-track term appointment that may be renewed to a maximum of five years and that may be converted to career based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds, and ongoing operational needs. A Career position will be considered for those who have relevant experience or for existing Career-Track or Term staff who have already exhausted the number of years eligible to hold a Career-Track role.

Berkeley Lab is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) and strives to continue building community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We heartily welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans, and all who would contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, inclusion, and professionalism. In support of our diverse global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Equal Opportunity and IDEA Information Links:

Know your rights, click here for the supplement: Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law and the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4.