Applications Scientist - AFM

Date: 2 Mar 2026

Location:

Beijing, CN

Job Function: Commercial

Business Unit: Asylum Research

Role Details

Business, Location:	AFM, China
Role:	Applications Scientist
Reports to:	Applications Manager – I&A China
Direct Reports:	None
Primary Purpose:	(1) In-house “AFM expert”, providing technical expertise and support both internally to Sales and Marketing, as well as externally to customers and prospective customers. (2) Provide mentoring and technical leadership for the Application team (3) Conduct instrument demonstrations and pre-sales experimental consultation. (4) Actively participate in the AFM Research community by delivering presentations at workshops and conferences. (5) Develop and communicate new applications and techniques.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and leverage key customer networks in line with business strategy.
Mentor junior members of Applications and Service Team.
Provide technical leadership for Cross BU training and collaboration.
Works with Applications and Marketing teams on long term product development and innovation.
Perform AFM demonstrations focused on the research interests and needs of prospective customers.
Compile well-written demonstration reports that explain AFM data clearly and ensure maximum impact from the available AFM images.
Assist and advise the sales and marketing teams on technical and scientific matters – e.g. fielding technical questions from prospective customers, interpreting technical claims by competitors, contributing to marketing materials, educating non-technical staff on new applications or capabilities.
Perform AFM installations at customer sites throughout China. Train customers on instrument operation and experimental design.
Provide expert technical support to customers (via phone, email, online and web forum).
Develop new applications and techniques and author technical notes, application notes, and/ or scientific journal articles.
Present new application developments and data at worldwide conferences and workshops, webinars and internal meetings.
Help continually improve the AFM hardware and software by suggesting new features and by reporting bugs or user interface issues.

Indicative Performance Measures

Successful completion of demonstrations, installations and training sessions.
Quality of support to customers.
Quality of support to sales and marketing teams.
Quantity and quality of presentations and participation at Scientific Society meetings
Leadership with the Applications and Service Teams.

Person Specification – Essential requirements unless stated

Education / Qualifications	Engineering or science degree (biology, materials science, physics, or equivalent field) and/or extensive work experience in atomic force microscopy. At least 10 years of AFM experience Preferably a PhD, but relevant work experience will be considered.
Professional Skills/ Abilities:	Experience and extensive knowledge of the theory and operation of AFMs, ideally as a user of an Asylum Research AFM within a laboratory environment. Strong technical background and the ability to draw from this when interacting with customers, designing experiments, or troubleshooting. Friendly, agreeable and approachable, applicant must have excellent people skills with the ability to interact favourably with all personality types. Strong ability to be able to quickly gauge the experience and technical level of the customer/prospect and support/train at the best level to match. Strong problem solving and troubleshooting skills. Excellent technical writing skills with the ability to write clearly and effectively. Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritise, plan, focus, and bring projects to completion within deadlines. Strong oral communication and presentation skills. Some teaching or tutoring experience preferred. Proficiency in English.
Personal Qualities	Willingness to travel (up to 50%) is absolutely essential. "Can do" attitude – Decisive, flexible and able to work around issues to deliver required performance. Flexibility is key in a position where short notice changes to travel or laboratory plans are commonplace Proactive, self-starter, completes activities with minimal support. Initiates actions to develop new and better ways of working, using past experience and mistakes as positive opportunities for improvement. Positive personal impact. Listens effectively and actively seeks to understand views of others, providing a shared sense of purpose and direction by communicating effectively. Recognises the value of teamwork, developing positive, open relationships and shares knowledge between teams in order to achieve the company’s business goals. Thinks “outside the box” to derive different, creative solutions to support the company’s business strategy and growth. Team player – sees bigger picture as well as own priorities and needs. Outgoing personality, open to new experiences and challenges.

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