Project Officer (Analytical EM & Microprobe)

Weekly Working Hours:  37

Job Description: 

About the Role

Full time, fixed term contract for 2 years

We seek an enthusiastic microscopist to join our Electron Microscopy Core Facility within the Faculty of STEM, supporting internal and external research projects and commercial work.

We seek an individual who can enhance the unit's capabilities in quantitative electron beam analysis of geological samples, particularly emphasising the quantitative analysis of major, minor, and trace elements in minerals, including meteorites. In this role, you will collaborate with leading research groups, including Planetary and Space Sciences, Astrobiology, and Dynamic Earth, in pursuit of exploration of the physical, chemical, and biological processes that shape our Solar System.

The role holder will work closely with facility staff and provide advanced technical support in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microprobe analysis, aiding in investigating geological and extraterrestrial samples.

By joining our team, you will be at the forefront of pioneering research from deep Earth geological processes to the quest for life in the cosmos. Your contributions will support groundbreaking discoveries in geological and archaeological sciences, significantly impacting our understanding of Earth and space.

We seek a motivated individual with a strong background in Geology or Mineralogy and a passion for microscopy. If you are excited about working in a dynamic and collaborative environment, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

Skills and Experience

Essential Requirements

This role will suit you if you:

• Hold a PhD (or be close to completion) or have equivalent experience in Geology or Mineralogy or any other relevant discipline.
• Experience in the operation of Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), sample preparation for SEM quantitative analysis and interpretation of results.
• Experience in using micro-analytical software in combination with EDS and WDS for standardised, quantitative analysis of element abundance, including interpretation of results.

You will find the full job description here

If you would like to discuss this role before making an application, please email Careers@open.ac.uk

To apply for this role please submit your CV with a personal statement, up to 1,000 words. You should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job and person specification.

Closing Date: 27/08/2024

Interview date: Thursday 5th September 2024

*Early Close: We reserve the right to close adverts sooner than the closing date.

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