NECAT Beamline

The Northeastern Collaborative Access Team (NE-CAT) facility at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory is managed by Cornell University and consists of seven member institutions:

  • Columbia University
  • Cornell University
  • Harvard University
  • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Rockefeller University
  • Yale University.

    • Primary funding for this project comes from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Additional financial support for NE-CAT comes from the member institutions.

    NE-CAT Computational Crystallographer

    Position Responsibilities

    The incumbent will provide scientific support to NE-CAT’s synchrotron X-ray beamline program located at the Advanced Photon Source facility within Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago, Illinois. The incumbent will have the following principal responsibilities: 1) development of new software to facilitate the taking and analysis of complex X-ray diffraction data obtained from challenging macromolecular systems, e.g., automation of the process from data taking to structure determination, novel applications of microdiffraction crystallography, dealing with radiation damage, nonmerohedral twinning of crystals, nonisotropic diffraction, etc., 2) pursuit of an independent research program using the X-ray beamlines and/or participation in collaborative programs with NE-CAT core research collaborators, and 3) participation with other NE-CAT staff providing support to users of NE-CAT beamlines including beamline orientation, training on the use of NE-CAT beamlines and scientific software, assistance in setting up their experiments, and providing crystallographic expertise to ensure that users obtain the highest quality data. The research and support activities will require occasional evening and weekend work shared with other staff members, since the beamlines are in continual 24 hour a day operation. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the NE-CAT Operations Leader.

    Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Requirements

    Applicants should be experienced in macromolecular crystallography research, ideally using synchrotron light sources, and knowledgeable in the use of commonly used data analysis and structural determination software such as CCP4, Phenix, HKL2000, XDS, etc. The applicant should have considerable experience and interest in software development and computer technologies, ideally those used in crystallographic research. Applicants should be expert in scripting/ programming languages such as Python, Fortran, C/C++, etc. Upon hire, the incumbent will be expected to rapidly develop competence in the use of the scripting beamline control language Console, specific to NE-CAT’s beamline operation. Applicants should be knowledgeable and have considerable hands on experience with a broad spectrum of computer hardware - Windows and Linux based computers, Raid-based data storage systems, etc. Applicants must have strong interpersonal relationship skills in working closely and successfully with a group of other staff members and users as well as good communication skills, both oral and written. This level of knowledge and skills is usually acquired at a Ph.D. degree level in Biology, Physics, or Chemistry and more than 2 years of directly relevant experience.

    Candidates should forward a cover letter with curriculum vita and contact information for three references to NE-CAT Director Prof. Steven E. Ealick (see3@cornell.edu). Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Cornell is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator and employer.

     
     

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