Summer Worker at MAX IV beamline Balder

Summer Job at MAX IV – Help Build a Unique X-ray Spectroscopy Reference Library!
Are you a chemistry student with a passion for spectroscopy, data analysis, and hands-on lab work? This is your chance to spend four weeks at MAX IV Laboratory, Sweden’s world-leading synchrotron facility!

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented student to join the Balder beamline team this summer. Your main task will be to prepare chemical reference standards for X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), measure them during a dedicated beamtime, and help build a publicly available reference library for scientists worldwide.


Your tasks will include:

• Preparing and analysing chemical reference samples in the lab
• Measuring samples during a beamtime session at the Balder beamline
• Processing and formatting spectral data using Python-based software
• Uploading data to SpecTable, a public XAS reference library
• Contacting user groups to encourage contributions to the database
• Evaluating and reformatting existing data sets for inclusion in the library

Who are you?

• A university student (minimum 120 credits, including at least 60 in chemistry)
• Comfortable working with Python scripts
• Experienced with chemical lab work and familiar with safety procedures.

Bonus points if you have:

• Experience with X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XANES & EXAFS)
• A Master’s level background in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field

As a person you are organised, detail oriented, and methodical in your work. 

Practical details:

Duration: 4 weeks, June–July
Location: MAX IV Laboratory, Lund, Sweden
Work plan:

• Week 24: Lab work – prepare reference samples & contact users and ask for contributions to the database
• Week 25: Learn the analysis programs and start evaluating and reformating old data sets & beamtime on Sunday, June 22, to measure the reference samples in transmission
• Weeks 26-27: Populate the SpecTable library with newly collected data sets and implement existing data from MAX IV and external user contributions

This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a cutting-edge research environment and contribute to a valuable scientific resource. Join us this summer and be part of the future of synchrotron science!

Interested? Apply now!

For further information, please visit:
https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-lund-university/work-lund-university
www.sweden.se
https://www.maxiv.lu.se/about-us/careers/compensation-benefits/