Division Director, SSRL Chemistry and Catalysis

The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL), a Directorate of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, and a national scientific user facility, seeks a Senior Scientist with interests and extensive experience in synchrotron radiation (SR)-based methods, applied to research in the broadly defined field of chemical sciences, and with a strong background leading and managing a research and technical organization. This position will serve as the Division Director of the Chemistry & Catalysis Division within SSRL.

The scientist will develop and lead a vigorous chemistry research program that will drive the development of new capabilities at SSRL, including experimental and calculational approaches, instrumentation, and integrated advanced data workflows, AI/ML methods and computing for accelerating scientific discovery. SSRL's Chemistry & Catalysis science program, leveraging the source characteristics of the 3rd generation storage ring SPEAR3, utilizes several hard and tender energy x-ray undulator, wiggler and bending magnet stations for experiments using primarily x-ray absorption (XAS/EXAFS) and emission (XES) spectroscopy, resonant inelastic scattering (RIXS), x-ray Raman scattering, high-energy resolution fluorescence detection (HERFD) XAS, and microbeam x-ray fluorescence imaging with integrated XAS.

The Division manages a significant and evolving user research program at these beamline facilities.

Development directions include advancing time-resolved in-situ and operando experiments with triggers such as optical, chemical, electrochemical or other methods, multi-modal characterization including non-SR techniques, automation and remote-access capabilities, and integration of theoretical modeling and electronic structure calculations with experimental approaches. Existing efforts include collaborations in instrumentation development and scientific programs with the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS)  this position, the science focus is on chemical science with a wide scope and applications;

other components of the SSRL program include user-supporting divisions focusing on biological and materials sciences. Their capabilities and scientific programs have significant overlap with those of the Chemistry & Catalysis Division. The scientist leading the Division will play an important role in planning for the future of SSRL and synchrotron-based science at SLAC.

• Provide strategic leadership and management for the SSRL Chemistry & Catalysis Division and program(s) exercising delegated authority for policy and programmatic decisions.
• Achieve goals through scientific, engineering, computational and technical staff engaged in developing, advancing and applying science, methods and technology.
• Play a critical role in SSRL operations policy decisions, development of novel user access mechanisms, and in managing the overall user operations program for the Division.
• Formulate and articulate the near-term and long-term goals of the Chemistry & Catalysis Science Division.
• Lead high-profile research programs in the areas of chemistry, catalysis, bioinorganic chemistry, and/or physical chemistry including with links to applied areas of research. This would include in situ and operando characterization of functional systems, as well as fundamental studies to understand their electronic and physical structures and their correlation to function.
• Develop the scientific case and work with SSRL management to seek funding for dedicated facilities, including beam lines, computing infrastructure and laboratory facilities for the research.
• Create external and internal scientific collaborations with researchers, including academia, national laboratories and industry.
• Drive the creation of research infrastructure at SSRL that enables the Division's scientific directions to evolve. Examples of great interest include efficient systems for chemical transformations including via electrolysis, photocatalysis, bioinspired analogs, biological triggers, and surface and sub-surface reactions characterized utilizing SSRL's x-ray capabilities, as…