Senior Scientist 1

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.

About the Team
The Wireless Sensor Network Group (WSN) at the Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork is currently advertising for the position of Senior Scientist in Scalable Sustainable and batteryless RF IoT Sensing Platforms.

The Tyndall National Institute is a world leader in the development of Smart Sensing systems for use in the body, on the body and around the body. Working closely with a global range of academic, business and clinical partners, our technology is under evaluation by several multinational corporations and is approaching market readiness in a number of areas. 

Having recently secured funding from Research Ireland as par t of the “Frontiers for the Future” programme, the Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) Group at the Tyndall National Institute invites applications for a key position as Senior Researcher-I (Senior Scientist) in scalable, sustainable battery-less RF IoT sensing platforms. The successful candidate will lead innovative research and development in sustainable electronics and battery-free wireless sensing systems through the development of Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technologies, with a strong emphasis on translating research into manufacturable solutions with low environmental footprint impacts.

About the Role
Key aspects include leading and developing research program in:

• Resource-efficient routes for component and circuit design, fabrication and integration, including:
  • Sustainable metal interconnects and antennas
  • RFID sensors (Carbon, LIG, LIC etc)
  • Plastic and bioplastic and other sustainable flexible substrates
• Advanced wireless power transfer architectures for RF-to-DC power conversion at low input powers enabling energy harvesting directly from 4G/5G and other ambient networks

As well as developing translational research outputs in the form of

• System prototyping and demonstration of sustainable IOT systems in real-world environments

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in RF/microwave engineering and electronic circuit design, supported by a proven track record of publications in top-tier journals (e.g., Q1 IEEE, Nature). Experience supervising MSc, PhD, and undergraduate students is essential, along with a demonstrated ambition to secure research funding and lead proposal development to establish and grow a research team.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and resource a research program in the Design and implementation of advanced RF/Microwave circuits and sensors through competitive proposals nationally and internationally.
• RF characterization and integration of novel materials for advanced Electromagnetic systems.
• Develop next generation Wireless power Transfer systems.
• Implement and support the development of new advanced battery-less wireless systems.
• Collaborate with researchers in the WSN group and other research teams (e.g. materials, 2D-materials, …) to design and develop the systems.
• Operate and optimise state-of-the-art RF characterized equipment.
• Develop, support and fund a research team through the supervision and mentoring of research staff and students.
• Lead the successful proposal writing process to secure independent competitive post-doctoral funding/awards.
• Contribute to the formation of research consortia and securing research funding from research councils/industry
• Lead projects, manage multiple aspects of research projects, including planning, execution, and documentation.
• Prepare and submit detailed technical reports and publications on research outcomes.
• Participate in Education and Public Engagement activities, as required.
• Ensure compliance with Tyndall’s Quality Management Systems, Health and Safety standards, and other regulations.
• To carry out any additional duties that may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post

• PhD qualified with typically of 6+ years of experience in RF/Microwave, Electronics engineering, or a closely related field.
• Typically, 3+ years of experience as senior postdoctoral researchers in the field.
• Demonstrated expertise in the design and simulation of RF electronics (Specifically Rectenna, wireless power transfer, Battery-free IoT sensors, Energy Harvesting).
• Experience in developing innovative wireless power transfer, with demonstrated proficiency in using sustainable materials in this context.
• Familiarity with LIG/LIC (Laser Induced Graphene/Copper) printing and low-cost additive manufacturing techniques, e.g. screen, dip coating and Inkjet printing.
• Proven ability to lead and support research projects and collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary teams.
• Show a strong background in securing research funding and proposal development.
• Demonstrated strong track record of Tier-1 IEEE/Nature publication in the field (h-index >15).
• Experience in contributing to and support the supervision of post graduate students .Strong communication skills, with experience presenting technical information at prestigious international conferences and chairing of session at international conferences.