EPAC Laser Scientist - Industrial Placement

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EPAC Laser Scientist - Industrial Placement

Salary: £23,328 per annum 

Hours: Full time 

Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months)

Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire 

Closing date: 20th October 2024

Interview date: December 2024/January 2025 (travel and accommodation will be reimbursed)

Start date: September 2025

Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.

EPAC, the Extreme Photonics and Applications Centre, is a newly built UK national laser facility and is one of the most powerful pulsed laser systems in the UK and globally. Our laser technology represents the cutting edge of both science, technology, engineering and manufacturing achievable in the world today! The high intensity laser interactions achieved by these systems will allow a diverse array of experiments—to both national and international university-based research groups— for real-world applications in plasma physics to investigate medical applications, particle acceleration, laboratory astrophysics, exotic physics, and much more. The laser is currently in the final stages of its commissioning and demonstration of high-power laser output for the very first user experiments. In this role you will learn a substantial amount of laser physics through both experimental and simulation work. The tools that a successful candidate develop over the placement year will be very useful in any scientific or technical career and a substantial plus in any application.

The Central Laser Facility (CLF) is one of the world’s leading laser centres, providing scientists mainly from the UK and continental Europe with access to an unparalleled range of state-of-the-art laser technology! The CLF has around 180 staff and its function - user facility, international research – makes it a very friendly, outgoing, externally facing sort of place. It has a welcoming and inclusive culture, and you will find that people will naturally help and support you.

Our host organisation, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe’s largest research organisations and operates at a number of sites within the UK, including RAL and many more around the world. RAL is home to about 1,200 staff that work with a community of more than 10,000 scientists and engineers mainly from the research sector, which spans the scientific spectrum including energy, security, materials healthcare, life-sciences and the environment to address important challenges facing society.

STFC is an award-winning employer and RAL is a superb place to work – there is pioneering work going on all around the site and the environment, facilities and conditions are excellent. RAL has a real buzz and the people working here have a profound sense of pride in what they achieve.

Brief overview of the scheme

STFC’s incredibly diverse range of placements allow you to work alongside world leading engineers, scientists, and technicians in highly collaborative environments. Whichever you choose, you will become a critical member of the team in which you will be exposed to exciting projects and challenges from the start. You will be supported every step of the way by our dedicated Early Careers Development Team who will also ensure you benefit from a range of personal development opportunities.

STFC offers a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas closure and flexible working hours. For more information on our full list of benefits, please visit here.

About the role and a summary of key duties & responsibilities 

We are seeking a hard-working and dedicated physics undergraduate with a keen interest in Optics and Laser Technology to join our team and contribute to the success of the EPAC project. The successful candidate will be involved in the development and optimization of the short pulse (30 femtosecond) petawatt laser beamline and will involve:

• Commissioning of state-of-the-art high power laser systems for research including optomechanical installation, data acquisition, and optimisation.
• Diagnostics alignment, development and verification of short-pulse output.
• Computational work for laser design and simulation including MATLAB and Opticstudio.
• Technical and scientific writing required to document progress and produce reports.
• Work with technical equipment such as commercial lasers, oscilloscopes, optical fibres, spectrometers, cameras.
• Operation of the laser system to support the research team and user experiments.

To apply for this placement, we are looking for the following:

Key - Shortlisting (S), at Interview (I) or both (S&I)

Essential:

• Currently enrolled on an undergraduate degree course and returning to university/studies to complete your undergraduate degree following the placement (S)
• Are required or have requested to take an industrial placement year (S)
• Have the right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the placement (S)
• Able to commence employment in summer 2025 (S)
• Minimum of two years of degree course in physics, or a closely related subject, with grades corresponding to a 2:1 or higher (S)
• A-level Maths or equivalent (S)
• A-level Physics or equivalent (S)

Desirable:

• Knowledge of basic optics (S&I)
• Experimental physics laboratory course (S&I)
• Knowledge of one programming language (e.g. Visual Basic, C++, MATLAB) (S&I)
• Knowledge of laser/optical theory (S&I)
• Further Maths (S&I)
• Physics knowledge (S&I)

About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) 

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We’re proud of the impact we make. And we’re committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You’ll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you’ll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you’ll discover just what a difference you can make when you’re equipped and inspired to excel.

We’re a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don’t, ask questions that others won’t, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it’s at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It’s very often ground-breaking. And it’s endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI) 

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. 

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation. 

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. 

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce 

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.  

How to apply 

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application. 

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.