MI5 is to appoint a chief scientific adviser¹, BBC News has learned.

BBC新闻部得知，军情5处将要指派一位首席科学顾问。

The role is "unique and challenging", according to MI5

The role will involve working with senior intelligence staff to combat terrorism and support counter-intelligence operations.

The advert²（注意，留言） on MI5's website says candidates will need to have world-class scientific expertise³ and outstanding communication skills.

MI5 is the more common name for the Security Service, the UK's domestic intelligence agency.

The successful candidate will be "leading and co-ordinating the scientific work of the Security Service", the ad says.

The UK government's chief scientific adviser, Professor John Beddington, told BBC News: "There is a really important role in providing scientific and technological⁴ advice on addressing problems agents in the field will face.

"[The chief science adviser] has a role to frustrate⁵（挫败，击败） terrorism to prevent espionage⁶（间谍活动） hurting the UK, protect our critical national infrastructure⁷（下部组织，基础构造） and to frustrate the proliferation（增值） of weapons of mass destruction.

"There's an enormous amount of scientific content in this role."

Dr Sally Leivesley, from security consultancy New Risk, told BBC News: "The appointment of a chief scientific adviser is an acknowledgement of the emerging threat of chemical, biological and radiological（放射线学的） attack by terrorists and also the security threat to computer systems," she said.

"A chief scientist for MI5 will change Britain's capability⁸ to manage terror attacks."

Dr Leivesley believes that the chief scientist would also be an important point of contact for experts in other countries at high risk of terrorist attack, such as the US.

"This means that large science labs around the world can be co-ordinated in the event of an incident," she said.

According to Professor Beddington, the adviser will have to keep up with the latest developments in science and technology - so that British intelligence officers can stay one step ahead of the country's enemies.

"It will involve a sort of future gazing to see where technology will be taking us in a year or so," he explained.

Applications for the job close on April 24.