Scientist position at CORUS

Reference 2026-FIX-45 Deadline 19/10/2026 Division Experiments

Institution

ALBA is the Spanish synchrotron light source, a large research infrastructure operating 13 beamlines, complementary facilities, and an Electron Microscopy Center, this last in partnership with other institutions. Currently constructing multiple more beamlines, expanding the Electron Microscopy Center, and integrating advanced data analytics, it sums up a wide range of infrastructures geared towards finding solutions to societal challenges.

It is funded by the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) and the Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Recerca i Universitats). The synchrotron light produced by 3 GeV electrons is used by thousands of researchers to analyse and understand the properties and functionality of matter, spanning a wide variety of fields, such as catalytic research, health, energy production/storage, environmental research, communication technologies, or cultural heritage.

Our highly motivated staff works in a multidisciplinary work environment with an atmosphere formed by lived diversity, inclusion and respect for our colleagues. One of the goals of our gender equality plan is to reach parity within the Consortium’s different divisions and offices, and several actions have been taken to encourage applications from women mostly in scientific, engineer and technical job positions.

ALBA is located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain), close to Barcelona in a natural park and well connected by car and public transportation, with excellent connectivity to the world and an employer who understands the importance of work-life balance.

Facing an upgrade to ALBA II, a 4th generation facility, which will increase dramatically brightness and coherent flux, ALBA is in a phase of growth and dynamics. Being a part of the ALBA team will promote your career and will give you the opportunities to explore new territories.

For more information, you can take a look on our history watching this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHMqiH4qBAo

CORUS is a new flagship beamline, which will be devoted to research in the life sciences domain, focused on nanoimaging, with chemical mapping and chemical speciation capacities on tissues by using holographic nanotomography, X-ray fluorescence and spectroscopy as the driving technologies. It will address how biological tissues work at the intercellular level, providing key insights in systems neuroscience (with applications in connectomics) as well as in many other life sciences disciplines. The beamline is designed to streamline correlative workflows, providing guidance and infrastructure for the users to combine multiple imaging readouts of the same sample obtained across endstations, beamlines at ALBA, as well as from other imaging modalities sourced abroad. Together, CORUS will boost volume nanoimaging in the life sciences domain across species, models and scales.

We are looking for a beamline scientist with a strong background in X-ray beamline instrumentation, optics and phase contrast imaging to join the CORUS team. With focus on instrumentation applied to bio imaging, the scientist will tightly work with the beamline responsible, the CORUS group, the other scientists at ALBA, external collaboration partners and the user community. Especially, during the design, construction and commissioning phase, the successful candidate will interface and work with the assigned specialized engineers and scientists to ensure state-of-the-art and beyond performance of the beamline, ensuring end-to-end operational excellence in operation. As expert in instrumentation, it is expected that the successful candidate will also strongly inteact with other beamline groups within ALBA and other facilities to enhance ALBA's overall capabilities, opening new application fields and novel approaches. In the operational phase, the candidate will provide world-calss user support and will refine in collaboration with the supporting groups the experimental conditions for best user experiences and a forefront scienentific program.

Tasks

• Cooperate in the design and construction of the beamline and in the development and execution of the beamline’s scientific, instrumentation, and technical program, contributing to its operational performance and strategic alignment within ALBA and the future ALBA-II framework.
• Participate in development and implementation of the CORUS beamline and user programme.
• Develop an independent research programme in nanoimaging, aligned with the strategic development plan of the CORUS beamline, including mentoring activities for students and junior scientists.Provide support to scientific and industrial users, including local contact or scientific support duties on the assigned instrumentation.
• Participate in the maintenance, commissioning, and development of CORUS and upgrade activities of the facility, including all activities necessary to achieve ALBA II project goals.
• Participate in and initiate research programs, national and European projects, and collaborations following ALBA's strategy and management directions.
• And any other similar and reasonable task or function in accordance with the responsibilities that may be assigned by Management, if applicable

Requirements

The requirements for participation must be met on the date of the deadline for the submission of applications and will be accredited by means of the CV attached to it, without prejudice to the power of the selection body to require the contribution of the originals of the certifications accrediting the qualifications, training and work experience invoked in the CV.

Applications that do not present the aforementioned or required documentation during the selection procedure will not be accepted.

The successful candidate must:

• Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biotechnology, or in a closely related discipline.
• Have a minimum of 1 years’ experience in some of the following disciplines: electronics, high-precision mechanics, optics, cryogenics, tomography, holography, ptychography, X-ray fluorescence or spectroscopy.
• Be fluent in written and spoken English (performance should be equivalent or superior to a B2 level).

Everyone who meets the requirements will be admitted for the selective process. This position is reserved for those candidates having the legal status of person with disabilities, with a degree of disability equal or greater than 33%. In case of one or more admitted applicants with this status of disability, these candidates will be evaluated at first. In the event that no candidate with the status of disability is finally selected for the position, the selection process shall continue and the rest of the applicants will be evaluated.

Selection Process Development

The selection will be carried out through the competition-opposition system.

As a first phase, an analysis of the curriculum will be carried out (assessment of previous experience and / or scientific history, degree, training and other professional information relevant to the position). Career breaks or variations in the chronological order of CVs will be regarded as an evolution of a career, and consequently, as a contribution to the professional development.

The assessment of the CV in the competition phase will be scored up to 40 points, which will consider the following aspects:

• Experience in instrumentation development for scientific applications in the field of nano-imaging (12 points).
• Experience in phase contrast X-ray imaging techniques (especially holography and ptychography) and in the design, farication and commissioning of its optical and opto-mechanical systems (12 points).
• Experience in image data processing using specialised resources (such as high-performance clusters), in the use of programming languages (especially Python and/or MATLAB) and in the use of version control tools (such as git) (6 points).
• Publication record, demonstrating impact in instrumentation and/or in the development of nanoimaging methods (7 points).
• Being awarded with at least one competitive beamtime and running those experiments at synchrotron facilities (3 points).

The best rated candidates, at least two if possible, will be invited to an interview where the technical competence, knowledge, skills and professional experience linked to the position will be assessed, with a total score of 60 points. A minimum of 30 points must be obtained out of a total of 60 points to be eligible.

Provided they meet the minimum requirements and have ranked among the top five after the assessment of the CV phase, at least one person from the underrepresented gender in the division/office will be interviewed.

The interview will be conducted in English and will address the following topics:

• Experience leading complex experimental workflows. (15 points)
• Communication skills and ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team. (10 points)
• Knowledge of optical and/or end station instrumentation, from optical simulations (ray tracing) to engineering customised solutions. (10 points)
• Knowledge of X-ray phase contrast imaging techniques. (10 points)
• Vision for the scientific development of the beamline. (5 points)
• Experience supervising, mentoring and supporting junior and visiting researchers. (5 points)
• Self-motivation, organizational and planning skills. (5 points)

The merits will be accredited by means of the CV attached to the application. The selection board may require accreditation by additional documentation, originals or certified copies confirming the experience invoked in the CV.

In case of a tied final score, the position will be awarded to the person who belongs to the most underrepresented gender in the corresponding Division and subsidiarily to the overall company.

If necessary, alternates of the members of the selection board will be appointed by the president of the selection process, and the change will be published in the announcement.

The resolution of the selection procedure will be carried out within a maximum period of six months from the deadline for submitting applications for participation.

The selection process may be declared vacant if the selection board considers not to have found eligible candidates for the position although they might meet the requirements to participate in the selection process specified in the offer.

Other information

Contract: Permanent

Base salary range €44.851 – €46.798 gross per year.

The base salary offered will be determined according to the selected candidate's qualifications, relevant professional experience, competencies and overall suitability for the position.

Additional remuneration:

• Annual productivity bonus (approximately 4% of the base salary), subject to the applicable internal policy and performance evaluation.
• Local Contact compensation.

ALBA also offers an attractive employment conditions, including flexible working arrangements and professional development opportunities.

The Selection Board is composed by the following members: Carles Bosch, Judith Juanhuix, Alejandro Crisol, Johannes Ihli, Josep Nicolàs, Bárbara Machado and Klaus Attenkofer.