What are the responsibilities and job description for the Scientific Associate / Senior Scientific Associate position at Argonne National Laboratory?
The X-ray Science Division (XSD) Microscopy Group seeks a Scientific Associate to support the In-Situ Nanoprobe (ISN) beamline at the Advanced Photon Source (APS). This role enables precision, high-stability measurements at the tens‑of‑nanometers scale in support of user experiments pursuing research in the physical, chemical, environmental, life, and material sciences.
The successful candidate will implement precision motion and control systems, develop and support in-operando sample environments, and maintain and troubleshoot beamline components to ensure reliable beamline operations.
Responsibilities include:
Research Development (RD)
Job Profile
Systems and Design Engineering 1
Worker Type
Regular
Time Type
Full time
The expected hiring range for this position is $74,799.00 - $118,785.42.
Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.
Click here to view Argonne employee benefits!
As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.
Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.
All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.
The successful candidate will implement precision motion and control systems, develop and support in-operando sample environments, and maintain and troubleshoot beamline components to ensure reliable beamline operations.
Responsibilities include:
- Beamline operations and reliability
- Support day-to-day user operations, monitoring system health, and ensuring rapid fault recovery.
- Diagnose and resolve issues in motion, electronics, vacuum, controls, and detectors; document root cause and corrective/preventive actions.
- Controls
- Develop and maintain EPICS/Blueskybased controls.
- Deploy and test new control systems, ensuring proper integration with existing beamline workflows.
- In‑situ/operando environments
- Assist with design, integration, and commissioning of in-situ sample cells in gas‑flow or vacuum chambers with heating and cooling capabilities.
- Interface cell and sample signals with controls and data acquisition.
- User support, documentation, and collaboration
- Provide hands‑on support during experiments, train users on procedures and safe operation.
- Produce and maintain procedures, checklists, beamline/controls documentation.
- Coordinate with APS engineering (controls, mechanical, electrical, vacuum), safety, and IT/data teams; serve as a primary technical interface.
- Experience in support, operation, and development of complex advanced instrumentation in a scientific user environment.
- Knowledge of maintenance/diagnostics equipment and techniques relating to encoded motion systems, advanced electronics, and computer controls systems.
- Demonstrated troubleshooting and diagnostic skills.
- Ability to make sound independent technical judgments in day-to-day problem solving.
- Knowledge of Linux based operating systems, python scripting, and EPICS is desirable.
- Knowledge of in-situ or operando sample environments is desirable.
- Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.
- Interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, and ability to interact with people at all levels both within and outside the laboratory.
- RD1: Bachelors and 0 years’ experience, Masters and 0 years’ experience, or equivalent. The expected pay range for this position is $ 74,799 - $ 118,785.
- RD2: Bachelors and 5 years’ experience, Masters and 3 years’ experience, PhD and 0 years’ experience, or equivalent. The expected pay range for this position is $ 90,063 - $ 143,010.
Research Development (RD)
Job Profile
Systems and Design Engineering 1
Worker Type
Regular
Time Type
Full time
The expected hiring range for this position is $74,799.00 - $118,785.42.
Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.
Click here to view Argonne employee benefits!
As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.
Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.
All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.
Salary : $74,799 - $143,010
