You’ll be responsible for the optimal scientific use of the Delft Reactor Institute’s neutron powder diffractometer PEARL. You’ll be training and supporting users, who include MSc and PhD students, postdocs, professors, but also R&D experts in industry. You’ll be interpreting the scientific value of measurements, advising users on sample preparation and analysing data, and discussing findings with them. Working closely with the users and the instrument’s technicians, you will adapt the instrument to optimise the experiments’ output. Everyday you enable new research, ranging from battery and solar cell performance to materials for hydrogen storage. And as the scientist responsible for PEARL, you’ll support professors with their research grant proposals, securing availability and the best possible set-up.

In addition, you will continuously develop PEARL to improve its quality in terms of resolution, e.g. by introducing a better shielding design to reduce background, accuracy and measurement speed. You will also develop bespoke sample environments and optimise PEARL’s computer control systems. And you’ll be promoting our facility in the global scientific community, speaking at conferences about the latest developments, organising workshops, and writing articles. As you’re building your expert reputation, you’ll also be building and maintaining a network of universities, research institutes and leading manufacturers in the Netherlands, showing them the value of PEARL for their R&D. As a rule of thumb, about 15% of the beam time is available for instrument development and possibilities to conduct own research.

You will work closely with a motivated and skilled team of technicians, who are responsible for and support you with the technical status of the instrument, and your fellow instrument scientists in our Instrument Group. We share a drive to educate engineering students and support groundbreaking research using our 2.3 MW open pool research reactor. As a university we have no direct profit objectives, so we can truly dedicate time to building unrivalled instruments, as well as training, instructing and supporting our users. Fostering an approachable and friendly culture, we share knowledge and bounce off ideas to create the best possible solutions. This also means getting to know the other instruments, as techniques and applications often overlap. Of course, you will get all the training and support you need to reach your full potential and grow in your expert role. 

• You hold a PhD in a subject related to physical science, life science, engineering or another relevant field.
• You have extensive experience of neutron powder diffraction gained in previous research and development roles, in-depth knowledge of the potential of the technique and a drive to learn all there is to know about PEARL for development and optimisation.
• You have a keen interest in the other techniques and instruments used at the Delft Reactor Institute, to harness the full potential of our facilities for our users and build the best possible solutions as a team.
• You have a drive to contribute to research and education, and become the acknowledged expert in the field of neutron powder diffraction.
• You harness your communication and social skills to interact with users whom you’ll train, support and advise.
• You enjoy building and maintaining a network of potential users, focusing on strengthening the radiation-related research capabilities of the Dutch academic world and industry in particular.
• You have a good command of English as you will be working in an international community and supporting students and researchers from across the globe.

Fixed-term contract: 1 jaar.

• A salary according to the Collective Labor Agreement of the Dutch Universities, plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Applied Sciences

TU Delft Reactor Institute is a world-renowned knowledge centre for radiation-related scientific research and education. We share our knowledge not only with our own researchers and students, but also with all kinds of professional groups who have to deal with radiation in their work. And so we teach them how to protect themselves properly against radiation. Think of Defence staff and healthcare professionals.