Percent Time: 100% Type of
Position Regular: A position which is considered essential for the
effective long-term operation of the university. Persons appointed to
this position will receive the privileges and benefits associated with
regular employment status. Duties:
The University of Iowa Central Microscopy Research Facility is an
Office of the Vice President for Research core resource, offering a wide
array of instrumentation to research investigators.
We are currently in search of a Core Facility Research Specialist to
oversee a newly established Electron Microprobe (EPMA) facility serving
a multidisciplinary community of users. Essential responsibilities
include using wavelength-dispersive (WDS) and energy-dispersive (EDS)
micro-analytical techniques on a JEOL JXA-8230 fully equipped with 5 WDS
spectrometers (3 PETL-LIFL, TAPL-LDEL, and PETJ-TAPJ-LDE1-LDE2),
advanced EDS and cathodoluminescence (CL) instrumentation to assist
research on geologic and other solid-state specimens. The facility also
houses a Hitachi S-3400N environmental SEM equipped with a Bruker EDS
system and a Gatan Chroma CL detector.
Job Duties:
- Perform chemical microanalyses of geologic, ceramic, metals, thin films, and other solid materials.
- Daily calibration of the electron microprobe and monitoring
performance of researchers/investigators collecting their own data, data
collection and reduction, analysis for some researchers/investigators,
and instrument demonstrations for classes and visitors.
- Provide back-up support for other analytical facilities, such as the SEM and ICP-MS.
- Effectively communicate to provide consultation, written reports,
and verbal presentations describing sample preparation, analytical
methods, analytical data acquisition, and interpretation of results.
- Provide education and training to EPMA and SEM users on sample preparation, analytical procedures, and data analysis.
- Stay current with state-of-art characterization techniques to provide solutions for researchers/investigators.
- Handle multiple projects while guaranteeing very high data quality standards.
- Work closely with researchers/investigators in conducting and/or developing new and specialized scientific research procedures.
- Maintain a working knowledge of EPMA software and hardware, provide
oversight and routine maintenance of the electron microprobe, and
oversee repairs.
Universal Competencies:
- Collaboration and Embracing Diversity - Ability to work with a variety
of individuals and groups in a constructive and civil manner while
appreciating the unique contribution of individuals from varied
cultures, race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability,
sexual orientation, and gender identity.
- Establishes and maintains positive and productive working relationships within and outside of own area and background.
- Identifies and resolves disagreements/conflicts in early stages.
- Promotes a safe, equitable, respectful environment in which concerns can be addressed effectively.
- Recommends changes to work practices and policies to promote transparency and approachability.
- Positive Impact/Achieving Results - Ability to utilize existing
resources and learning to achieve or exceed desired outcomes of current
and future organizational goals/needs. Able to demonstrate ethical
behavior in diverse situations while producing results.
- Ensures time, resources, energy, learning opportunities, and actions
are focused on priorities that matter to the changing workplace.
- Creates a team environment of accountability and commitment for
reaching goals and desired results; ensures team is developed to address
future needs.
- Ensures compliance with codes of ethics that benefit the overall good of all constituents.
- Demonstrates and communicates a big picture understanding of the organization, its interrelationships, and priorities.
- Service Excellence/Customer Focus - Ability to meet or exceed
customer service needs and expectations and provide excellent service in
a direct or indirect manner. Ability to effectively transmit and
interpret information through appropriate communication with internal
and external customers.
- Effectively uses a broad range of methods in communicating complex ideas to diverse populations.
- Monitors profession/field/discipline for trends and implements innovative solutions to enhance service.
- Builds successful track record of superior personal and organizational service delivery in diverse environments.
- Promotes excellence achieved through reports or other media for
distribution to internal and/or external constituents and the
professional community
- The Core Facility Research Specialist classification is in the Core
Facility Research job family. For more information about the Core
Facility Research job family click on the link above.
Please note regarding references : 5 (Five) professional references will be requested and required at a later step in the recruitment process.
Education Required:
- A Master’s degree in a scientific field or an equivalent combination
of education and experience is required. Experience Required:
- At least three years of experience in EPMA of geological materials
using both energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and wavelength
dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (WDS).
- Demonstrated ability to independently design EMPA WDS and EDS
analytical routines for a variety of materials while optimizing accuracy
and precision to suit the analytical needs.
- Understanding the factors that affect the accuracy and precision of
EMPA analyses, and the ability to clearly communicate these to
colleagues and students with expertise in other fields.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently in a position of increasing responsibility. Desirable Qualifications:
- PhD in a scientific field
- Post-degree professional experience of at least one year after the completion of the doctoral degree.
- EPMA publications on geological topics.
- Familiarity with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM),
Cathodoluminescence (CL) and Laser-Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma
Mass Spectrometry (LA ICP-MS) analytical techniques and data analysis.
Online Application Options
Application Type: This job requires basic applicant
information, plus a resume. Your resume should not be sent to the
contact below. The resume will be attached during the Online Application
Process. Cover Letter: A plain text cover letter is required.
To start the Online Application process for this position, click the
"Apply for This Position" button located below the Contact Information.
Contact Information
Attention: Your resume should not be sent to the contact below. The resume will be attached during the Online Application Process.
Contact: Wendy E Loney
Vrsh-Research Administration
UNIVERSITY CAPITOL CENTRE
200 SOUTH CAPITOL STREET
2660 UCC
IOWA CITY, IA 52242
Department URL: http://cmrf.research.uiowa.edu/ |