VMXi is a unique macromolecular crystallography beamline within Diamond, designed specifically for automated data collection from in situ crystallisation experiments and is highly adaptable to serial data collection methods.
Three new opportunities have arisen for Principal Beamline Scientists to join our team, including for an internationally recognised structural biologist and/or methods development expert to take up this role at group leader level for the VMXi Beamline, to guide and develop the newly established facility.
In the role of Principal Beamline Scientist (PBS) you will supervise a small team of scientists to establish a competitive research programme which exploits the capabilities of VMXi and Diamond and contribute to the development and operation of the international user programme at VMXi and the MX group more broadly.
The post is underpinned by funding for a post-doctoral research associate linked to the role, subject to a suitable case being made to support research and development within the group. Furthermore, Diamond has a successful PhD programme and is strategically partnered with a number of doctoral training centres across the UK providing the opportunity for PhD studentships. You will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories for structural and cellular biology embedded at Diamond and within the Research Complex at Harwell to pursue your research.
Instrumentation and software development is facilitated by dedicated support from Diamond’s computing, engineering and scientific software groups as well as partnerships with CCP4 and the recently established Rosalind Franklin Institute (who are close partners of the HeXI project) amongst others. Candidates are expected to apply for external grant funding through national and international funding agencies to take full advantage of the stimulating and exciting research environment at Diamond.
VMXi is equipped with Formulatrix plate hotels linked via robotics to the data collection system for automated screening and data collection from crystallisation plates, coordinated for users via the ISPyB SynchWeb interface. High flux (10e14 ph/s) x-rays are available via a double multilayer monochromator as well as from a more conventional double crystal monochromator (10e12 ph/s). This opens up significant potential to explore serial data collection methods alongside in situ data collection coupled with the advanced Eiger2 X 4M detector. The beamline is currently in the optimisation stage of its user programme for in situ experiments, being able to collect rotation data from thousands of samples at room temperature at very high data rates and is in early commissioning developments of its serial crystallography capabilities, presenting a unique opportunity for this role to develop methodologies and a complementary user programme for room temperature crystallography with these sample delivery methods.
The macromolecular crystallography (MX) group at Diamond comprises 7 world-class MX beamlines with unique capabilities and is complemented by dedicated beamlines for BIOSAXS, CD, X-ray imaging and spectroscopy, IR-microspectroscopy and the UK’s national Cryo-EM centre (eBIC). The MX group at Diamond established the first dedicated synchrotron-based labs for X-ray fragment screening (X-Chem) and membrane proteins (MPL). In addition, the UK XFEL hub provides a focus for XFEL work, engaging UK users in serial crystallography experiments around the world, and directs UK developments at the SPB/SFX instrument at the European XFEL. The MX group has a strong software development programme which includes development of the DIALS integration software package, ISPyB/SynchWeb and automation pipelines.
Find out more and apply here.
