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Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. By accelerating electrons to near light-speed, Diamond generates brilliant beams of light from infra-red to X-rays which are used for academic and industry research and development across a range of scientific disciplines including structural biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, earth and environmental sciences.
Our Year in Industry programme
The 12 month ‘Year in Industry’ scheme allows undergraduate students studying for a relevant degree to gain experience working in across different teams at Diamond.
You will work on your own project during the year by collaborating with your group and staff all across the organisation along with the support from your supervisor/s. Diamond has an excellent track record for helping students execute work which is valued not only by Diamond staff but also our User community.
We have also welcomed previous Year in Industry students back to Diamond as they work and study towards one of our competitive joint PhD studentships or as part of our Graduate Software scheme, which shows how impactful our placements can be.
In addition to working on your own project, you will also have the opportunity to get involved with other areas of work at Diamond to gain a wider view of the full range of what our facility does. You will be encouraged to learn about research teams based at Diamond and other facilities on-site at the Harwell Campus, and to participate in public engagement events, and in communicating science to a wider audience.
See what our 2021 Year in Industry students had to say about our programme
My placement at Diamond has given me invaluable skills that I will take with me throughout my career going forward. Diamond has been an incredibly supportive environment with great people, and a very collaborative atmosphere. (Jemima, 2021 Year in Industry Engineering student)
Project title: Automating synchrotron data analyses using machine learning
Due to the high intensity light available at a synchrotron, we acquire significant amounts of data that can become burdensome to analyse during an experimental run, however without analysing the data “on the go”, we can misinterpret our results and ultimately waste precious synchrotron time. Often the main human input into data analyses is image recognition, the sort of intuitive pattern recognition that humans do well, and that formal programming struggles with. Yet, over the last decades image recognition software has come on by leaps and bounds, mostly down to machine learning.
As such, we have begun to develop neural networks to enable on-the-fly analyses of our rapidly measured data. We are looking for a candidate to help develop such neural networks to apply to the analyses of X-ray standing waves (XSW) data. XSW is a technique that is largely unique to the Diamond Light Source, and allows us to probe the position of atoms above a surface with a precision of a few thousandths of a nanometer.
The raw data obtained from this technique are a series of X-ray photoelectron spectra measured at different photon energies. Across this energy range, the intensity of the different components in the spectra vary significantly (between a factor of 0 to 400 %), but, due to the nature of the technique, only very specific variations are actually possible.
As such, the successful candidate would be developing a framework for generating model data, and then use that model data as a training set to generate a XSW fitting neural network.
What we're looking for
Essential criteria for applications
- Currently studying towards a computer science, physics, chemistry, mathematics, or engineering (or related) undergraduate degree
- Training or experience in computer programming (e.g. Python, FORTRAN, C++, Matlab, etc.)
- Evidence of successfully working within a team
Desirable criteria for applicants
- Experience in handling numerical data
- Evidence of successful self-directed learning
- Significant experience in computer programming, particularly with Python
- Prior experience in machine learning
- Knowledge of the photoelectric effect / quantum physics / quantum chemistry
This project is suitable for students following degrees in the following broad subject areas: currently studying for a Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Engineering (or related) undergraduate degree.
Further information
Our Year in Industry students are paid £22,423 per annum. Training and experience are provided in the following areas:
- Presentation training to prepare for your final talk on your project
- Python programming (if applicable for your project)
- CAD Training (if applicable for your project)
- Public Engagement skills
- An internal programme of seminars and talks from leading scientists
- Tours and talks of other science facilities across the Harwell Campus
To apply
Please use the online application process to apply and tell us why you believe you are suitable for this role. You will need to either be a UK national or hold a Student visa, or otherwise have the right to work in the UK.
Placement students must be registered as an undergraduate for the duration of their time at Diamond and ensure that they can commit to the whole 12-month period (2 September 2024 - 29 August 2025). Applicants should be expecting to gain a first or 2:1 honours degree.
Where relevant, and possible for the role, we will consider flexible working arrangements, secondment and job share opportunities.
Diamond attract talented individuals from around the world and currently employ 44 different nationalities. Reflecting trends in our sector we employ more men than women (77% men and 23% women as at March 2021). Therefore, we particularly welcome applications from suitably qualified women. If you are disabled and would like to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please let us know via the online application process.
Diamond are members of Working Families (the UK’s work-life balance organisation), we have also achieved the Athena SWAN Bronze award and Disability Confident Level Two.
This role does not meet the required skill level for a Skilled Worker visa and therefore we would be unable to sponsor individuals due to the current UK Home Office immigration rules. To be appointed to the role, candidates will need to have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship from us.
