Are you passionate about research? So are we! Come and join us

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

Do you want to know more about LIST? Check our website: https://www.list.lu/

Discover our Materials department: https://www.list.lu/en/materials/

You will be part of the highly interdisciplinary Advanced Instrumentation for Nano-Analytics group at LIST’s MRT department.

During the past ten years, we have been developing Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) add-on systems for focused ion beam (FIB)-based high resolution imaging workstations including FIB-SEM and helium ion microscopes. These platforms allow each a unique of its kind combination of detection modalities for combined ultrastructural imaging and high sensitivity chemical nano-analytics.

How will you contribute?

You will have the opportunity to make use of that instrumentation in order to progress its application in the boundary region where material, environmental and life sciences meet. The position is part of an EU funded project developing a “SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN FRAMEWORK FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS”. The project comprises the development of novel materials in the field of automotive, textiles and cosmetics that will be characterized in view of their physicochemical, nanotoxicological properties and safety aspects.

You will be mainly in charge of:

• Method development and physicochemical characterization of these materials using our in house developed prototype instrumentation based on focused ion beam microscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry (FIB-SIMS), as well as publication and dissemination of project results with relevance to life science applications.

Typical tasks:

• Preparation of materials (mainly provided by partners) for in vacuum analysis
• Development and refinement of ion-beam induced secondary electron imaging, transmitted ion beam imaging and secondary ion mass spectrometry acquisition
• Data treatment protocols for room temperature analysis and analysis under cold conditions facilitating e.g. the analysis of beam-sensitive samples and frozen-hydrated biological specimens exposed to these materials using our prototype instruments for cryo FIB-SIMS analysis
• Close collaboration with project partners working on materials development, physico-chemical characterization, toxicology, safety and sustainability assessment etc.
• Contribution to dissemination, valorisation and transfer of RDI results (patents, licences, prototypes, publications, technical reports, participation in conferences)

Is Your profile described below? Are you our future colleague? Apply now!

Education

PhD in natural sciences, material sciences, biotechnology, nanotoxicology or comparable

Experience and skills

• Proven hands-on experience (>3 years) in electron/ion microscopy preparation and analysis tools for the physico-chemical characterization of materials and/or biological specimen
• Experience in developing and using correlative workflows, data processing and data visualisation, including methodologies and algorithms for image fusion and co-registration
• Experience in writing, first authoring of publications and reports
• Interest in setting-up new academic and industrial collaborations
• Interest, patience and endurance in working with prototype instrumentation
• Excellent communication, flexibility, organizational and interpersonal skills with team-oriented mind-set
• Fluency in English is mandatory; knowledge in at least one of the official languages of Luxembourg (French, German or Luxembourgish) is an asset

The following skills are not mandatory but an asset

• Basic knowledge in cryo workflows, helium ion microscopy, chemical imaging techniques
• Engineering experience and interest to contribute to hands-on prototyping
• Advanced programming skills for data treatment (e.g. MATLAB, Python)
• Prior work related to toxicology, safe and sustainable by design (SsbD)

Your LIST benefits

• An organization with a passion for impact and strong RDI partnerships in Luxembourg and Europe that works on responsible and independent research projects
• Sustainable by design, empowering our belief that we play an essential role in paving the way to a green society
• Innovative infrastructures and exceptional labs occupying more than 5,000 square metres, including innovations in all that we do
• An environment encouraging curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship in all areas
• Personalized learning programme to foster our staff’s soft and technical skills
• Multicultural and international work environment with more than 50 nationalities represented in our workforce
• Diverse and inclusive work environment empowering our people to fulfil their personal and professional ambitions
• Gender-friendly environment with multiple actions to attract, develop and retain women in science
• 32 days’ paid annual leave, 11 public holidays, 13-month salary, statutory health insurance
• Flexible working hours, home working policy and access to lunch vouchers

Apply online

Your application must include:

• A motivation letter oriented towards the position and detailing your experience
• A scientific CV with contact details
• List of publications (and patents, if applicable)
• Contact details of 2 references

Application procedure and conditions

• LIST is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring and retaining diverse personnel. We value all applicants and will consider all competent candidates for employment without regard to national origin, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, age or disability
•  Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled
• An assessment committee will review the applications and select candidates based on guidelines that aim to ensure equal opportunities 
•  The main criteria for selection will be the correspondence of the existing skills and expertise of the applicant with the requirements mentioned above
• Candidates shall be available for starting their position in spring 2024.