Senior Postdoctoral Researcher – Materials Modelling for Devices Group
Ireland
Full Time
Research
Experienced
Senior Postdoctoral Researcher – 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 the simulation-led discovery and characterisation of p-type semiconducting metal oxides for sub-2nm CMOS technology nodes. You will report to, be directed by and be under the supervision of the Principal Investigator (PI) assigned to this activity, Dr. Nolan.
The project is part of Tyndall’s work in the NanoIC Pilot Line and the work will be performed in close collaboration with the Thin Film Processing activity led by the Advanced Surfaces and Materials Group. The work will involve collaboration with the Atomic Layer Deposition activity at Tyndall within the project and engagement with researchers within the wider NanoIC project team.
This role is a prestigious role which represents a step change from a Post-Doctoral researcher role. Your work will be performed in accordance with the Institute’s integrity policy and all other relevant policies.
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 novel materials for future CMOS technology. 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
- Coordinate and execute the implementation of first principles and atomistic simulations using machine learning alongside the presentation and interpretation of data. Specifically, for NanoIC these include:
- Leading research on multiscale atomistic simulation of p-type semiconducting metal oxides.
- Use first principles simulations for discovery of p-type oxides.
- Develop machine learning models to accelerate discovery of novel materials.
- Use a range of atomistic simulations for characterisation and performance of novel p-type metal oxides.
- Collaborating with the Tyndall experimentalists on atomic layer deposition and the wider technical team in NanoIC
- 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 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 ongoing 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 are compliant with the Tyndall Quality Management system.
- Ensure all activities 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.
- PhD in materials sciences, engineering, chemistry, physics or related discipline and typically 6 years postdoctoral experience
- Typically, 6 years on DFT simulation of materials applied for the discovery of novel materials and understanding their properties
- Demonstrated knowledge in atomistic simulation of materials
- A strong publication record in the field of multiscale simulation of functional materials
- Capability of 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
- Established track record of supervision and mentoring of researchers and students
- 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
- Experience in (1) metal oxide simulations and (2) machine learning potentials for complex materials
- 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
We offer progressive employment and training policies including opportunities for further studies. At Tyndall we value Ambition, Collaboration, Diversity, Excellence and Integrity. You will be supported throughout to grow your skillset and learn how to adapt in new challenges to develop your career.
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:
- 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.
Contract Category: Full Time/
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Contract Duration: Approximately 2 years
Appointment may be made on the UCC/IUA Experienced Senior Postdoctoral Researcher Level 2 Scale i.e. €55,399 - €60,250 per annum. 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 Michael Nolan
Closing date for application is 1pm, 10th July 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.
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