Research Fellow in Sustainable Energy Use 

We are offering one Research Fellow position (1 years) for September 2022 start in the area of sustainable energy use of large scientific infrastructure.

Across Europe, standardised, transparent, and publicly accessible energy labelling is available for many of the devices we interact with in our daily lives. Currently, large infrastructure in scientific, research, and medical disciplines have no such performance data. Here we examine large scientific and medical device infrastructure within Trinity College to assess its energy and environmental impact. This will include devices such as magnetic resonance imagers, high-voltage electron microscopes, research furnaces and distilled/deionised water purifiers.

We aim to develop a tool so that all the major scientific infrastructure in the university can be evaluated and labelled so users of these instruments can make informed choices about the environmental impact of their work. Although this will be initially piloted inside one institution (Trinity College), our tool can easily be expanded across wider HEA institutions, hospitals, and industry.

This role is based in the Ultramicroscopy Research Group at Trinity College Dublin and the wider School of Physics.

Qualifications

A suitable candidate will have a Masters or PhD in Physics, Energy Science, or a related area. The candidate would be expected to have a further 2 years research and/or industrial experience in order to be appointed at the top of the salary range.

Knowledge & Experience (Essential & Desirable)

A background in experimental physics, engineering, electrical systems design or similar is required for the experimental aspects of the project. Knowledge of other areas of sustainable energy systems, energy policy landscapes, product/consumer labelling would be advantageous but not essential. The candidate will need to be proficient in data handling and

presentation (at least MS Excel). The candidate will need to demonstrate very good record keeping and report writing skills.

Skills & Competencies

Excellent communication skills will be required as well as the ability to prioritise deliverables and meet fixed deadlines during this fixed 12-month project. The post-doc will both lead and contribute to scientific publications arising from the research conducted. This will include presenting these findings at scientific conferences. The post-doc will also be the liaison to the manufacturing partners at IMR, so some knowledge of CNC terminology and best-practice would be advantageous.

The postdoc will be responsible for curating all technical drawings, version control and data back-ups in the team.

Further information

A post-doc researcher (Trinity title: Research Fellow), is required to identify, audit and document large infrastructure and their energy demands. This will include a technical and policy landscape literature review, preparing lists of large equipment, and documenting the mixture of energy needs.

The post-doc will also be responsible for performing experimental measurements of electrical consumption and performing calculations of (for example) cooling air/water flows. The role will include developing a calculation tool (e.g. spreadsheet) to allow others to reproduce the results. The post-doc will report day-to-day to the group leader (Prof. Lewys Jones)

This post is funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland via a fixed duration ‘Research, Development and Demonstration’ grant. Appointment will be made using published university salary scales, “Post-Doctorate Researcher”, point 1 to point 3 [€42,032 to €44,572] depending on experience.

The Ultramicroscopy Group and the School of Physics welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, and applications are particularly encouraged from all genders / ethnicities / backgrounds traditionally under-represented in Physics.

How to apply

Applicants should submit a cover letter describing their interest in the position (max. 2 pages) and a full Curriculum Vitae (max. 4 pages) which includes how they meet the qualification / experience requirements. The CV should include the names and contact details of 2 referees (including email addresses). Documents should be submitted as a single combined PDF to Dr Lewys Jones: lewys.jones@tcd.ie

Applications are encouraged from all backgrounds, but especially any groups underrepresented in STEM disciplines. Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

High-precision structural imaging of materials at the picometre scale

We are looking for PhD candidates in the area of high-precision structural imaging of materials at the picometre scale.

The scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) facilities available at Trinity College Dublin are capable of imaging materials down to the atomic level. A high energy beam of electrons is concentrated to a spot less than 80 pm in diameter, scanned across a sample and atomic resolution images of scattering and spectroscopy signals can be collected. This makes STEM an indispensable technique for modern materials science and nanotechnology. However, the scanned nature of the acquisition, and the concentrated beam of electrons, presents difficulties in time resolution and specimen damage. The Ultramicroscopy Group is pushing developments in state-of-the-art beam-scanning strategies and hardware to mitigate this and advance the next generation of STEM.

This project will combine with the group’s recent developments and apply them to materials science problems in fields such as ferroelectricity. We are targeting the highest possible precision data with the least possible beam damage. We are keen to make use of our new, state-of-the-art segmented detector for differential phase contrast imaging. With this we want to push spatial and temporal resolution as well as quantitative measurements of electromagnetic fields. Quantitative assessment of data fidelity will be key and critical thinking skills will be essential.

Leveraging the modern data-science toolkit for atomic-resolution microscopy

This project will see you start in the area of data-science in the scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). By working closely with experimentalists, you will deliver new approaches in data-streaming, data-compression, feature extraction, and data visualisation. Research topics may include compressed-sensing, data in-painting and experiment design optimisation.