The Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) operates the new HIKA Imaging Station as a Collaborative Research Group (CRG) instrument on the P23.2 beamline of the PETRA III storage ring at DESY in Hamburg. As part of the first PETRA IV upgrade phase, KIT is preparing to expand the HIKA station to create the future dedicated imaging beamline PB32. Designed for hierarchical imaging and serial tomography workflows, HIKA enables both pioneering and systematic research in materials research and life sciences. It combines various X-ray microscopy and parallel beam coherent imaging techniques in the 10–60 keV energy range with tomography and laminography, as well as sophisticated sample robotics. It employs multilayer Laue lenses for highest resolution and develops Bragg magnification optics for highest dose-efficiency regimes.
Campus Nord
As the first HIKA beamline scientist in the new HIKA department at IPS, you will play a leading role in ensuring efficient operation and continually advancing HIKA’s instrumental and methodical capabilities. In close collaboration with highly interdisciplinary teams at KIT and DESY, you will be at the forefront of X-ray imaging developments and applications. This exciting position offers the opportunity to engage in KIT’s long-term research projects and to shape the future of world-class X-ray imaging at PETRA III / IV. Your Responsibilities Develop, integrate, and optimize most advanced X-ray imaging techniques for the concepts of hierarchical imaging and serial tomography with synchrotron radiation.Ensure reliable beamline operation with all of HIKA’s instrumentation hardware, including sophisticated optics and robotics, and with dedicated beamline controlling, data acquisition, and processing software for high-throughput imaging experiments.Prepare HIKA to adapt to the outstanding source properties of PETRA IV. Participate in planning and development of the PB32 beamline at PETRA IV.Provide expert user support for experiment execution and subsequent data processing. Budget, resource and investment planning for HIKA operation.Ensure safety in the workplace. Collaborate with KIT and DESY teams to expand HIKA’s imaging capabilities.Contribute to scientific publications, scientific proposal applications and acquisition of third party funding projects. Represent HIKA and its operation at KIT, DESY, conferences, and user meetings.
Salary
Salary category 14 TV-L, depending on the fulfillment of professional and personal requirements.
Contract duration
5 years with optional tenure track
Application up to
20.02.2026
Contact person in line-management
For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Baumbach, email: tilo.baumbach@kit.edu.
