Research Associate

Role Description

Department

The School of Physics, Engineering and Technology brings physicists and engineers together to push the frontiers of knowledge, foster innovation and meet the grand challenges facing society. Our aim is to deliver world-leading research in both fundamental and applied areas whilst developing new technologies that work for the public good, in an environment where everyone can thrive.

As a School, equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to our culture and we strive to provide a working environment which allows all staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish, and to excel. We aim to ensure that there is a supportive and egalitarian culture at all levels and across all staff groups and offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums, campus facilities and services to support staff from different backgrounds. We are proud to hold Juno Champion and Athena Swan bronze awards, which recognise our commitment to creating an equitable and fully inclusive environment in which staff and students can thrive. We aim to inspire young people to engage with science and engineering through our outreach work. 

This project will be supervised by Dr Laura Clark, and based in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, using facilities hosted within the York Nanocentre. The project will make extensive use of the Nanocentre experimental capabilities; specifically the newly installed aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) with 4D detector.

Role

The resolution of images obtained in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) is typically not limited by the instrument resolution, but by the stability of the sample. Many important materials are unstable under the electron beam and easily damaged, causing a blurred image. The aim of this research is to develop, implement and apply new dose-efficient 4D-STEM imaging methods, based around existing algorithms for electron ptychography to improve imaging of beam-sensitive materials.

Specifically, the role holder will develop and install novel apertures for the STEM, based on image simulations to improve achievable contrast at low electron dose. They will perform 4D-STEM experiments, using a pixelated detector, to collect and analyse data for ptychographic analyses.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

You will have:

• First degree in Physics (or a closely related subject)
• PhD in Physics (or a closely related subject)
• Experience of carrying out both independent and collaborative research in experimental (scanning) transmission electron microscopy or closely related methods
• Experience of undertaking publicly evidenced high quality research.
• Highly developed communication skills to engage effectively with varied audiences, both orally and in writing.

Interview date: To be confirmed

For informal enquiries: please contact Dr Laura Clark on laura.a.clark@york.ac.uk or contact the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology HR on pet-hr@york.ac.uk

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork