Job Description

Research Fellow Technology Computer Aided Design – Materials Modelling for Devices Group

About Tyndall

Tyndall National Institute is an international leader in semiconductors, photonics and deep-tech research and innovation. As a leading collaborative European research institute, Tyndall is a key actor and hosting partner in the delivery of the ‘Chips for Europe Initiative’ (EU Chips Act).

Tyndall is Ireland’s leading research and innovation organisation and it is the national focal point for excellence in deep-tech research, development and graduate training at the convergence of nanotechnology, microelectronics, photonics, electronics and AI. Tyndall is recognised as an international research leader in semiconductor, chip and digital technologies, particularly as applied to the fields of Information & Communications, Health & Life Sciences, Agritech & Food Security, Energy and Climate Mitigation, emerging fields such as quantum, and novel computing paradigms.

The Institute’s key objective is to see frontier research activities having a significant impact on economic development and societal challenges in Ireland, Europe and beyond. Central to Tyndall’s mission is delivering economic impact through research excellence in partnership with industry and academia. With an annual turnover of more than €50m, the Institute has a community of over 600 researchers, engineers, support staff, postgraduate students, interns and industry researchers-in-residence.

With significant committed Irish government support, Tyndall will grow to be 1,000 people by 2030, with approximately 750 researchers, including 250 PhD students. A new 17,000 m2 research building is under development adjacent to the Cork headquarters and there are developing plans to expand Tyndall’s existing Dublin research labs and to establish other research sites within Ireland.

Tyndall’s expansion is also supported by recent national and EU funding wins for significant (M€10’s) additional research equipment across a range of areas such as semiconductor processing, microscopy, quantum technologies, heterogeneous integration, ultra-high speed optical communications and RF through THz characterisation.

Background to the Role

Within Tyndall’s Micro Nano Systems Centre, we have created a strategic research programme focusing on materials, emerging devices and architectures for future information processing, interfacing with CMOS and beyond (“CMOS++ Materials & Devices”), which brings together a team of PIs in modelling & simulation, materials processing, device fabrication and electrical characterisation focused on emerging materials and devices for integration into sustainable computing systems.

CMOS++ is leading Tyndall’s involvement in the Chips JU NanoIC pilot line (www.nanoic-project.eu) co-funded by the European Commission and national agencies as part of the targeted initiatives of the EU Chips Act. The implementation of the Chips JU pilot lines is expected to bridge the gap from lab to fab and will be available to a wide range of users, including academia, industry and research institutions.

The NanoIC pilot line is the result of a remarkable European cross-border collaboration. Hosted by imec (Belgium), its partners include CEA-Leti (France), Fraunhofer (Germany), VTT (Finland), CSSNT (Romania) and Tyndall National Institute (Ireland).

NanoIC targets semiconductor technologies that will shape tomorrow’s high-tech solutions. One of the main goals is to develop the process steps and modules that enable these technologies. This will result in stable ‘platform’ baseline flows with a high technology readiness level (TRL 4-6).

These technologies are situated in three research pillars:

1. Advanced logic technologies
2. Advanced memory technologies
3. Advanced interconnect technologies

In NanoIC, Tyndall’s flexibility into materials integration will allow for rapid, short-cycle screening to reduce the cycle time in identifying and integrating highly performing materials to carry forward into IC development. Our role is to provide agile materials discovery and processing linked to wafer scale nanofabrication and processing beyond silicon for the integration of selected new materials – Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs) and oxide semiconductor (OSC) – into FET device architectures. The goal is to develop a material platform for embedded DRAM and above IC functionality, thereby providing a key technology block to enable leading-edge ICs.

Purpose of the Role

The purpose of this role is to design & implement a specific research programme in the Materials Modelling for Devices Group (Head of Group, Dr. Michael Nolan) to lead our work on Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD) driven design, simulation, and optimisation of next-generation semiconductor devices based on novel TMDs and p-type OSCs. Working at the forefront of device design with TCAD tools, the successful candidate will drive the development and application of advanced simulation frameworks to accelerate the discovery and realisation of novel device architectures within NanoIC.

The successful candidate will provide high-level scientific expertise and intellectual leadership in TCAD-based modelling, bridging the gap between semiconductor materials development, theoretical device physics and experimental fabrication. The successful candidate will be expected to generate original, high-impact research, attract competitive funding, and contribute substantively to the wider advanced semiconductor technologies work in the CMOS++ research cluster. You will report to, be directed by and be under the supervision of the Principal Investigator (PI) assigned to this activity, Dr. Nolan, and collaborate constructively with the NanoIC PIs (Thin Film Processing, TMD materials and devices and electrical chaterisation) the NanoIC program and research translation managers. Your work will be performed in accordance with the Institute’s integrity policy and all other relevant policies.

This role is a prestigious role which represents a step change from a Post-Doctoral researcher role. You will have dual goals in terms of the research project and your own career development. The training and development relevant to this position will be completed within the period of your contract in which time you will continue to develop skills and competencies with respect to the role and your future career options. Tyndall National Institute will provide the successful candidate with the individual training and development required to build a successful Senior Researcher career.

To this end, the successful candidate will be supported in their development towards a senior researcher role within the group to lead an activity centred around TCAD focussed research into novel semiconductor devices. The successful candidate will be supported in applying to relevant funding programmes to support and sustain their research activities, e.g. Research Ireland Pathway program, Research Ireland Partnerships, Royal Society URF, ERC StG/CoG, while relevant training and development opportunities at Tyndall and UCC will be used to enhance their training and development and skills needed to transition to a senior role within the group.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with the supervisor and other team members in idea and strategy generation to deliver the outputs of the project and to contribute to raising the profile of this activity
• Develop, calibrate, and validate physics-based simulation models using industry-standard and custom TCAD platforms (e.g. Synopsys Sentaurus, Silvaco ATLAS, or equivalent).
• Lead Manage and independently drive a programme of TCAD-based research into novel semiconductor device materials and device concepts. Specifically, for NanoIC these include:

1. Leading research on p-type semiconducting metal oxide device performance prediction.
2. Leading research on TMD based device performance prediction.
3. Develop machine learning models/AI techniques as required to accelerate simulations.
4. Collaborating with the Tyndall experimentalists on materials discovery, atomic layer processing, TMD materials and electrical characterisation within the wider technical team in NanoIC

• Translate simulation outcomes into actionable design guidelines for experimental fabrication partners, supporting a coherent simulation-to-fabrication pipeline.
• Utilise an independent approach to carry the project work forward including to proactively identify opportunities for external funding sources, prepare grant proposals and the assessment of research findings for potential commercial exploitation in collaboration with the PI.
• Collaborate with project partners, internal and external researchers and carry out any administrative and management work associated with the NanoIC technical deliverables
• Support access to Tyndall’s offer within NanoIC as required by the Pilot Line access model for external users.
• Engage in the dissemination of the results to the relevant research stakeholders in the appropriate form such as reports result to team leaders, partners, and funding agencies and publications in the top-tier journals and at leading key conferences in the field.
• Supervise and provide day-to-day advice, support, mentoring, and assistance to research graduates, students and other junior members, and contribute to the supervision of postdoctoral staff in the subject of semiconducting metal oxides and their processing.
• Communicate the benefits of the research to wider society through active participation in several Education and Public Engagement activities, as required.
• Engage in appropriate training and development opportunities to develop own transferable skills, career and reputation.
• Ensure all activities support and are compliant with the Tyndall Quality Management system.
• Ensure all activities support and are compliant with the required Health and Safety standards.
• Carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.

Essential Criteria

• PhD in Semiconductor Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related discipline.
• A minimum of six years of postdoctoral or equivalent professional research and project management experience following award of the PhD, with a demonstrable and sustained track record of securing independent funding for independent research.
• Extensive hands-on expertise with one or more industry-standard TCAD simulation platforms (e.g. Synopsys Sentaurus, Silvaco ATLAS, Nextnano, or equivalent).
• Proven experience in the modelling of semiconductor device physics, including carrier transport, electrostatics, thermal effects, and quantum mechanical phenomena as appropriate to the device domain.
• Capability of supervision, mentoring and working effectively within a team to achieve results
• A demonstrated capability in idea generation and the delivery – both technically and operationally – of successful research projects
• An established track record of high quality peer reviewed publications.

Desirable Criteria

• Demonstrate an ability to manage self, time, resources and people to enable a high level of personal effectiveness
• Evidence of collaboration with experimental groups is desirable
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• An ability to identify research challenges and opportunities within the semiconductor materials field
• A thorough understanding of the research environment both nationally and internationally and the ability to contribute substantially to grant applications
• Commitment to Open Science, e.g. open access publications, codes and/or research data
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the policy, practices and procedures that are relevant to the role
• Highly self-motivated, be able to demonstrate initiative and commitment to develop own transferable skills, profile and reputation to advance own career after the end of the contract period

What we Offer

Apart from offering a position in a very successful and positive research environment, with a collaborative ethos full of diverse competencies to boost your career, we offer the following:

• Impactful Work: Opportunities to contribute to ground-breaking research and innovation that shape Ireland’s economy and the society at large.
• Continuous Learning: Strong support for formal training, further study and professional development.
• Interdisciplinary Environment: Where academia, industry, and innovation intersect - supported by cutting-edge infrastructure and expert knowledge.
• Blended Working: Flexibility to work remotely and on-site, where the role allows.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Access to UCC pension, long-term illness benefit, life assurance, and more.
• Generous Leave: Competitive annual leave entitlements.
• Equity & Inclusion: Athena Swan Bronze award holder, with ongoing initiatives led by a dedicated People and Culture team to ensure equity for all.
• Core Values: A culture grounded in Ambition, Collaboration, Diversity, Excellence, and Integrity.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: A proactive, innovation-driven environment that welcomes entrepreneurial and creative thinkers, including those with start-up experience.
• Supportive Onboarding: Structured induction and mentoring to help new hires integrate and thrive.
• Vibrant Culture: A collaborative, people-first workplace with a strong sense of community.

As a Research Fellow you will avail of:

• Individual Development Plans – Staff work with their managers to create detailed career “roadmaps” that take into account their interests and career aspirations as well as the business needs of their Centre and the Institute
• Learning & Development Opportunities – Staff can take advantage of learning and development opportunities, including leadership and management development skills, project management, industry and job specific learning, and including general business, finance, and technology skills
• Opportunities for mentoring and day-to-day technical supervision of postgraduate (PhD, Masters) and undergraduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers
• Opportunities for Outreach and Public Engagement activities
• Support for preparation of competitive research proposals.

Terms of Employment

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Contract Category: Full Time

Appointment may be made on the UCC/IUA Research Fellow Scale Point 1 (€67,214 - €73,239 p.a.) Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with the public sector pay policy.

The duration of the contract is a for a fixed term of approximately 24 months with the possibility to extend upon the availability of funding, satisfactory performance, mutual agreement and a detailed career development plan.

Informal enquiries concerning this position can be made to Dr. Michael Nolan.

Closing date for application is 1pm, 30th September 2026

Application Instructions

Please make sure to attach an up-to-date CV/Resume AND a brief motivation letter outlining how you meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ for this role.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on university approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.

Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer.