As the first HIKA beamline scientist in the new HIKA department at IPS, you will play a leading role in ensuring efficient operation and continually advancing HIKA’s instrumental and methodical capabilities. In close collaboration with highly interdisciplinary teams at KIT and DESY, you will be at the forefront of X-ray imaging developments and applications. This exciting position offers the opportunity to engage in KIT’s long-term research projects and to shape the future of world-class X-ray imaging at PETRA III / IV.

Your Responsibilities

• Develop, integrate, and optimize most advanced X-ray imaging techniques for the concepts of hierarchical imaging and serial tomography with synchrotron radiation.
• Ensure reliable beamline operation with all of HIKA’s instrumentation hardware, including sophisticated optics and robotics, and with dedicated beamline controlling, data acquisition, and processing software for high-throughput imaging experiments.
• Prepare HIKA to adapt to the outstanding source properties of PETRA IV.
• Participate in planning and development of the PB32 beamline at PETRA IV.
• Provide expert user support for experiment execution and subsequent data processing.
• Budget, resource and investment planning for HIKA operation.
• Ensure safety in the workplace.
• Collaborate with KIT and DESY teams to expand HIKA’s imaging capabilities.
• Contribute to scientific publications, scientific proposal applications and acquisition of third party funding projects.
• Represent HIKA and its operation at KIT, DESY, conferences, and user meetings.

You are an enthusiastic and skilled scientist with a strong background in X-ray imaging and synchrotron-based research. You enjoy combining technical expertise with hands-on experimental work and collaborative project management in a dynamic, international research environment.

Requirements:

• PhD in Physics or related field (e.g. Materials Science, Engineering, or related disciplines).
• Several years of experience working at an imaging beamline at a synchrotron radiation facility, with in-depth understanding of beamline instrumentation and imaging techniques.
• Experience in at least one of the fields of X-ray microscopy, phase contrast imaging, tomography.
• Experience in developing or commissioning new experimental setups.
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken, enabling effective communication in an international environment.

Desirable skills:

• Familiarity with data analysis and image reconstruction methods in X-ray tomography, phase retrieval, and related imaging modes.
• Experience in project management and supervision of technical and scientific staff, ideally in a multidisciplinary research setting.
• Motivation to contribute to collaborative research and drive innovation in imaging techniques and applications.
• Good Python programming skills.
• Good command of German, both written and spoken.