Florian Dworkowski

Team Lead & Instrument Scientist at SwissFEL | Time-Resolved Structural Biology & High-Throughput Data Acquisition | Synchrotron & XFEL Instrumentation | Technical Project Management & Stakeholder Relations

Zurich, Switzerland

About

My work focuses on time-resolved structural biology and building the specialized instrumentation needed for high-throughput data acquisition at large-scale photon sources. Currently, I work across two different experimental regimes: Synchrotron setups: Developing data collection strategies at kilohertz frequencies to capture room-temperature structural dynamics. XFEL setups: Managing sample delivery and experiments at Free-Electron Lasers, where we combine a 100 Hz throughput with femtosecond time resolution to resolve short-lived, transient states. For more than 15 years at the Paul Scherrer Institute, my core focus has been the practical integration, calibration, and troubleshooting of advanced beamline instrumentation and complex hardware-software systems. I work a lot on experimental streamlining to deliver a smooth user experience, even during highly demanding data collection runs. In this position, I see myself as a bridge between technical engineering constraints and the final scientific requirements on the beamline. To make complex projects succeed, I regularly lead cross-functional teams across software, electronics, and mechanics divisions. On the project management side, I am used to handling complex stakeholder environments. This includes managing operational expectations for international pharmaceutical partners and industrial shareholders, as well as securing over CHF 3M in funding from national agencies and industry partners. Core Competencies: Technical Project Management • Systems Integration • Experimental Streamlining • Requirements Engineering • High-Throughput Data Pipelines • Stakeholder Management

Experience

  • Paul Scherrer Institut PSI (Villigen, Aargau, Switzerland · On-site)
    • Team Lead
      Aug 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 11 mos

      - Lead a matrix team that handles experimental design, instrumentation updates, and user support for femtosecond serial crystallography at SwissFEL and SLS endstations.

    • Instrument Scientist - SwissFEL ALVRA
      Aug 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 11 mos

      - Responsible for the technology transfer and deployment of the Jungfraujoch data streaming architecture from the synchrotron over to the XFEL environment. - Coordinate with multi-disciplinary engineering divisions (software, electronics, mechanics).

    • Lead Beamline Scientist - SLS X10SA
      Jan 2013 - Jul 2022 · 9 yrs 7 mos

      - Looked after the full technical operations, infrastructure planning, and budget tracking for the X10SA (PXII) endstation. - Drove the development of kilohertz-frequency synchrotron setups to make dynamic macromolecular crystallography a routine option. - Co-developed the Jungfraujoch streaming framework, which established an FPGA-GPU pipeline capable of real-time data reduction at a sustained 38 GB/s. - Acted as primary technical contact for international pharma partners, balancing high-throughput screening demands with advanced instrumentation R&D. - Integration of high-rate hybrid-pixel arrays (PILATUS, EIGER, EIGER2, JUNGFRAU) under real user operating conditions.

  • Graduate Research Assistant at ETH Zurich
    May 2005 - Dec 2009 · 4 yrs 8 mos

  • Research Assistant at Charité
    Aug 1999 - Jun 2002 · 2 yrs 11 mos

  • Chief Technology Officer at BonzaiNET GbR
    May 1997 - Jan 2002 · 4 yrs 9 mos

    Responsible webdesigner and technical lead in a small Web Development Agency.