Research Director - Advanced Packaging Programme 

Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term 
Location: Cork, Ireland 
Duration: 5 years 

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, RF 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. 
 

About the Role

Reporting to the Tyndall CEO or nominee, you will lead the development and growth of a new Research Programme in Advanced Packaging at Tyndall National Institute in accordance with the Institute’s forthcoming strategic plan, ‘Tyndall 2030’ and the ambitions of Ireland’s ‘Silicon Island’ strategy. 

The new Research Programme will drive both frontier research and pilot-scale process development, uniquely positioning Tyndall to translate research innovations into industrial impact within this strategically important national and global sector. It will build on existing packaging and integration activities in which Tyndall has established an international reputation (e.g., within IPIC, PixApp and PIXEurope) while also launching new research initiatives in key areas with significant growth potential. These include the development of new packaging materials, advanced electrical, RF and optical chiplet packaging, more accurate and complex package simulation and design models, package reliability and failure analysis, packaging for space and extreme environmental applications, as well as the development of breakthrough packaging processes for mass production, cost efficiency, and sustainability. Crucially, the programme will enable Tyndall’s strategic vision for heterogenous integration and support and facilitate research teams across the Institute through direct and collaborative access to packaging facilities, expertise and training. This will support Tyndall’s mission in developing and validating new materials, devices, and systems for quantum, RF/microwave, connectivity, biomedical, agritech, power and other applications. 

As a member of Tyndall’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT), you will be a major contributor to shaping and delivering the forthcoming Tyndall 2030 strategic plan. In particular, working with the Tyndall Chief Scientist, other senior research leaders, and the Tyndall Director of Strategic Development you will help develop and deliver the Institute’s strategic research vision and priorities. 

By securing national and European funding you will recruit and develop research leaders, staff and students to create new independent research groups in the Advanced Packaging programme across relevant technical areas (such as Packaging Simulation and Design; Optical Packaging; Electrical Packaging; Packaging Frontend and Materials; and Reliability and Failure Analysis). 

In this role you will work with Tyndall’s Director of Innovation and Industry Engagement in developing strategic partnerships and collaborations with industry partners, and lead the commercialisation of new ideas and innovations through the creation of high value start-ups with global reach. 

As a member of SLT and institutional leader you will help ensure the delivery of Tyndall’s mission, its development and sustainability as Ireland’s premier research institute and how it delivers impact across Ireland, Europe and beyond. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Strategic research leadership of the Advanced Packaging theme supporting Tyndall’s strategic plan, and national and European initiatives and strategies. 

• Leadership and management of all aspects of the Advanced Packaging Research Programme across research, innovation and training. 

• Development and management of core research laboratories, infrastructure and equipment in Advanced Packaging, facilitating the sharing of, and access to, these resources across the whole institute. This should include relevant internal training. 

• Development of strategic research relationships with industry partners for the benefit of the whole institute including other programmes and centres. 

• Maximise the impact of the research programme, through industry collaboration, commercialisation, industry access, and engaged research and public understanding of science. 

• Develop and nurture spin out opportunities or otherwise support Irish start-ups. 

• Significantly contribute to international thought leadership and road mapping through influential research papers, contributions to sectoral white papers or similar documents and initiatives. 

• Develop a positive and progressive people culture for all staff and students in Advanced Packaging and ensure that they are key participants in institutional initiatives and activities. 

• Ensure proactive recruitment and career development of staff and students including proactive succession planning, consistent with the plan for the research programme. 

• Ensure excellent outcomes for postgraduate students and a best-in-class student experience. 

• Ensure that the research activities of the research programme are sustainably funded at the overall programme level on a proactive basis encompassing Research Ireland, EI, EU and industry. 

• Support the programme’s group heads and team leaders in securing and sustaining the funding necessary for their specific research areas. 

• Ensuring full compliance with health and safety, quality improvement, finance, people and culture, and reporting requirements, and any external audit obligations. 

• Engagement with Irish and European research and innovation funders and agencies such as Research Ireland, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the European Commission, in alignment with institutional needs and priorities. 

• Close coordination and partnership with relevant units of University College Cork (UCC) and other higher education institutions in Ireland. 

• Carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required given the senior institutional leadership level of the post. 

Essential Criteria

• A PhD in physics, engineering, technology or related discipline. 

• Significant depth of expertise and internationally-recognised research and innovation excellence in the area of advanced packaging for semiconductors and chip technologies. 

• Demonstrable international leadership and influence of technology roadmaps and innovations in advanced packaging as evidenced by external engagement and strategic positioning. 

• Strong knowledge of the whole semiconductor value chain and ecosystem trends, particularly in the context of the EU Chips Act and industrial research and development. 

• Significant research leadership and management experience, as evidenced by sustained management of a major research group or management of structured activity in a funded research centre. 

• Significant track record of managing successful bids for large-scale competitive research funding awards. 

• Track record of developing major funded partnerships with industry in the area of advanced packaging. 

• Experience of entrepreneurship and the development of spin-outs or start-ups and/or experience of directly supporting the growth and development of start-up companies. 

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of research and innovation strategic initiatives, policies, and funding opportunities in Ireland, Europe and globally. 

• Visionary leader with the ability to inspire, influence and develop others. 

• Evidence of the successful development and support of emerging research leaders and positioning them as standalone principal investigators. 

• Excellent communication skills and demonstrable ability to build consortia and develop effective technical ecosystems. 

• Strong collaborative ethos, with a results-oriented approach. 

Desirable Criteria

• Leadership of pan-European strategic research and innovation projects related to Advanced Packaging. 

• Successful research student supervision. 

Conditions of Employment 

Salary scale (new entrants):  Senior Admin IIA (Grade 10) Salary scale €129,651– € 152,267 (Scale B) per annum. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy. 

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor William Scanlon. 

Closing date for applications is Thursday 9th April.

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. 

A full candidate information pack is available by right clicking here and opening in a new window/tab.

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. At this time, Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies. Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer.