PhD Position - Multi-Wavelength Photonic Platforms for Co-Packaged Optics in AI Datacentres
Cork, Cork, Ireland
Full Time
Postgraduates, Studentships & Internships
Student (College)
PhD Position - Multi-Wavelength Photonic Platforms for Co-Packaged Optics in AI Datacentres
(Rinn Semiconductors — Ireland’s Centre for Semiconductor Innovation — NET Theme (Future Internet) NET 1: Passive PIC and Control Architectures for Short-Reach Optical I/O in Co-Packaged and Disaggregated Systems)
This fully funded PhD will develop passive photonic integrated circuit platforms and scalable control approaches for multi-wavelength optical I/O in future AI and datacentre systems. The student will gain hands-on experience in PIC design, foundry tape-outs, optical link modelling, automated characterisation and photonic-system integration.
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 Rinn Semiconductors
Rinn Semiconductor is part of a constellation of seven major new centres which collectively represent an investment of €460M in advanced research by the Government of Ireland. Rinn Semiconductors aims to lead Ireland’s response to the end of Moore’s Law scaling, the point where traditional improvements in computer chips slow down or ends, by pioneering modular integrated circuit-based (chiplet-based) semiconductor design and integration. With deep expertise in the areas of Heterogeneous Integration and Advanced Packaging, the Rinn Semiconductors team propose to enable transformative advances in these technologies and to apply them in three main application areas: Future Internet, Sustainable Energy and Environment, and Digital Healthcare.
A key objective of Rinn Semiconductors is to foster deep collaboration across the seven universities and institutions involved, by leveraging the semiconductor fabrication facilities at Tyndall, ultimately creating a cohesive “atom to systems” value chain in Ireland, connecting everything from basic materials research through to complete technology solutions. The Rinn will operate in close collaboration with Ireland’s vibrant semiconductor industry sector which supports 20,000 highly skilled jobs and includes world leading multinational companies, small and medium sized enterprises and start-ups.
The successful applicant will:
The NET (Future Internet) theme at Rinn Semiconductors, Ireland’s Centre for Semiconductor Innovation, hosted at Tyndall National Institute (a research flagship of University College Cork, UCC), is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on the passive photonic integrated circuit (PIC) and control architectures required for multi-wavelength optical I/O in co-packaged and disaggregated systems. The research sits within NET 1 and addresses the photonic infrastructure needed to place high-bandwidth optical engines close to switch, compute and accelerator application-specific integrated circuits.
Modern artificial intelligence (AI) clusters require thousands of graphics processing units and accelerator devices to exchange very large volumes of data with low latency. Although optical transceivers are widely used for switch-to-switch connections, the high-speed electrical path between the switch or compute chip and the optical transceiver is becoming a major bottleneck. As data rates increase, these electrical connections consume more power, limit bandwidth density and create significant signal-integrity and thermal-management challenges. Co-packaged and disaggregated optical architectures address these limitations by locating photonic circuits much closer to the electronic devices.
This PhD will investigate reusable, foundry-compatible passive PIC platforms for short-reach optical I/O. The student will design, model and experimentally validate architectures incorporating optical routing, wavelength-division multiplexing, fibre-to-chip coupling, wavelength and power monitoring, calibration and test structures, and interfaces for integrating active photonic and electronic components.
A key research challenge will be the management of large populations of wavelength-sensitive photonic elements while minimising electrical power, hardware complexity, calibration time and control overhead. The work will quantify how optical loss, fabrication tolerances, thermal variation, bandwidth, latency and packaging constraints influence system performance and scalability. The project will combine photonic circuit modelling, system-level link analysis, PIC design, control concepts and experimental characterisation, leading to practical design rules and tape-out-ready passive PIC host platforms for future multi-wavelength photonic engines.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term
Duration of Study: 4 years
Preferred start date: As soon as candidate acceptance and the necessary University, funding and visa requirements are complete.
The annual stipend is €25,000.00. In addition, annual tuition fees will be paid by Tyndall National Institute.
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Prof Paul Townsend.
The closing date for applications for this position is 1pm, 4th 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.
Postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency as per UCC regulations (https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/english/postgraduate/). Certificates should be valid (usually less than 2 years old) and should be uploaded with their application.
(Rinn Semiconductors — Ireland’s Centre for Semiconductor Innovation — NET Theme (Future Internet) NET 1: Passive PIC and Control Architectures for Short-Reach Optical I/O in Co-Packaged and Disaggregated Systems)
This fully funded PhD will develop passive photonic integrated circuit platforms and scalable control approaches for multi-wavelength optical I/O in future AI and datacentre systems. The student will gain hands-on experience in PIC design, foundry tape-outs, optical link modelling, automated characterisation and photonic-system integration.
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 Rinn Semiconductors
Rinn Semiconductor is part of a constellation of seven major new centres which collectively represent an investment of €460M in advanced research by the Government of Ireland. Rinn Semiconductors aims to lead Ireland’s response to the end of Moore’s Law scaling, the point where traditional improvements in computer chips slow down or ends, by pioneering modular integrated circuit-based (chiplet-based) semiconductor design and integration. With deep expertise in the areas of Heterogeneous Integration and Advanced Packaging, the Rinn Semiconductors team propose to enable transformative advances in these technologies and to apply them in three main application areas: Future Internet, Sustainable Energy and Environment, and Digital Healthcare.
A key objective of Rinn Semiconductors is to foster deep collaboration across the seven universities and institutions involved, by leveraging the semiconductor fabrication facilities at Tyndall, ultimately creating a cohesive “atom to systems” value chain in Ireland, connecting everything from basic materials research through to complete technology solutions. The Rinn will operate in close collaboration with Ireland’s vibrant semiconductor industry sector which supports 20,000 highly skilled jobs and includes world leading multinational companies, small and medium sized enterprises and start-ups.
The successful applicant will:
- Join a world-class and highly diverse community of more than 100 PhD students, more than 100 Postdoctoral Researchers and around 35 experienced PIs and Research Fellows
- Engage with over 30 industry partners to learn about their work and future career opportunities
- Become an in-house entrepreneur and explore the opportunity to commercialise your research through a Spin-Out company
- Follow in the footsteps of our current trainees where over 86% of PhDs have transitioned into industry with some of the world’s leading semiconductor companies, in Ireland and the EU.
- If you aspire to be a future PI and academic research leader our programme will support you to build your research track record and vision, equipping you to take the next steps on your career journey.
The NET (Future Internet) theme at Rinn Semiconductors, Ireland’s Centre for Semiconductor Innovation, hosted at Tyndall National Institute (a research flagship of University College Cork, UCC), is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on the passive photonic integrated circuit (PIC) and control architectures required for multi-wavelength optical I/O in co-packaged and disaggregated systems. The research sits within NET 1 and addresses the photonic infrastructure needed to place high-bandwidth optical engines close to switch, compute and accelerator application-specific integrated circuits.
Modern artificial intelligence (AI) clusters require thousands of graphics processing units and accelerator devices to exchange very large volumes of data with low latency. Although optical transceivers are widely used for switch-to-switch connections, the high-speed electrical path between the switch or compute chip and the optical transceiver is becoming a major bottleneck. As data rates increase, these electrical connections consume more power, limit bandwidth density and create significant signal-integrity and thermal-management challenges. Co-packaged and disaggregated optical architectures address these limitations by locating photonic circuits much closer to the electronic devices.
This PhD will investigate reusable, foundry-compatible passive PIC platforms for short-reach optical I/O. The student will design, model and experimentally validate architectures incorporating optical routing, wavelength-division multiplexing, fibre-to-chip coupling, wavelength and power monitoring, calibration and test structures, and interfaces for integrating active photonic and electronic components.
A key research challenge will be the management of large populations of wavelength-sensitive photonic elements while minimising electrical power, hardware complexity, calibration time and control overhead. The work will quantify how optical loss, fabrication tolerances, thermal variation, bandwidth, latency and packaging constraints influence system performance and scalability. The project will combine photonic circuit modelling, system-level link analysis, PIC design, control concepts and experimental characterisation, leading to practical design rules and tape-out-ready passive PIC host platforms for future multi-wavelength photonic engines.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Develop system-level models linking passive PIC performance to optical bandwidth, latency, insertion loss, power consumption and thermal constraints.
- Design foundry-compatible passive PIC architectures for short-reach optical I/O in co-packaged and disaggregated systems.
- Design and optimise wavelength-routing, WDM, fibre-coupling, monitoring, calibration and test structures.
- Investigate scalable control, calibration and monitoring architectures for large populations of wavelength-sensitive photonic elements.
- Experimentally characterise prototype photonic devices using high-speed measurement equipment and thermal-control platforms.
- Translate device- and circuit-level results into system-level design guidelines for heterogeneous integration and advanced packaging.
- Develop tape-out-ready passive PIC host platforms for subsequent integration of modulators, detectors, lasers and electronic control circuits.
- Disseminate research through peer-reviewed journal publications, international conferences, project demonstrations and technical reports.
- Complete the required PhD coursework, participate in research group and project meetings, and contribute to education, outreach and cohort activities.
- Ensure compliance with Tyndall’s Quality Management Systems, Health and Safety standards, and other relevant regulations.
- Participate and support in Education and Public Engagement activities, as required.
- A first-class or upper second-class honours degree, or equivalent international qualification, in Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Physics, Photonics or a closely related discipline.
- A strong interest in optical communications, integrated photonics, high-speed optoelectronic systems, modelling and experimental research.
- Strong analytical and programming skills using Python, MATLAB or an equivalent programming environment.
- The ability to work independently and effectively as part of a multidisciplinary research team.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, suitable for technical documentation, presentations and scientific publications.
- Must meet UCC’s postgraduate English-language requirements through a recognised test qualification or an approved exemption.
- A master’s degree in Physics, Engineering, Photonics or a related discipline.
- Experience in the experimental characterisation of photonic or optoelectronic devices.
- Experience in modelling photonic, optical communication or optoelectronic systems using tools such as VPIphotonics, Lumerical, COMSOL, or custom Python or MATLAB simulations.
- Experience with photonic integrated circuit design, layout, foundry process design kits or tape-out workflows.
- Experience with optical communication link analysis, automated measurement, calibration, feedback or control systems.
- Previous contributions to scientific publications, conference presentations, project reports or other technical documentation.
- A strong desire to innovate and pursue advanced research, demonstrated through relevant project experience or technical achievements.
- Full PhD funding, including tuition fees and a tax-free stipend.
- A position within Rinn Semiconductors — Ireland’s Centre for Semiconductor Innovation, working at the interface of photonics, semiconductors, and next-generation optical interconnects.
- Access to the Photonic Systems Group’s advanced optical communication laboratories and Tyndall’s world-class photonic fabrication, packaging and characterisation facilities.
- Opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration across the NET, HET and PACK themes and engagement with Rinn’s academic and industry network.
- Training in PIC design, optical link engineering, automated measurement, system integration and feedback control, supporting careers in datacentre interconnects and optical-electronic system design.
- The opportunity to publish internationally, present at leading conferences and contribute to practical photonic platforms for next-generation AI and datacentre systems.
- 20 days per annum annual leave for full-time research students, in addition to public holidays.
- Full coverage of travel expenses to international conferences to present project outcomes.
- Training and development opportunities are also provided.
- Mardyke Sports Arena -Students – free when registered with UCC
- Free Park and Ride Service
- Also see here for more information
- The student will be supervised by Prof. Paul Townsend and Dr. Cleitus Antony, and will be based in the Photonic Systems Group at Tyndall National Institute / University College Cork.
- The supervisory team brings expertise in optical communications, integrated photonics, photonic system design and control architectures, with additional collaboration across the NET, HET and PACK themes.
Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term
Duration of Study: 4 years
Preferred start date: As soon as candidate acceptance and the necessary University, funding and visa requirements are complete.
The annual stipend is €25,000.00. In addition, annual tuition fees will be paid by Tyndall National Institute.
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Prof Paul Townsend.
The closing date for applications for this position is 1pm, 4th 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.
Postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency as per UCC regulations (https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/english/postgraduate/). Certificates should be valid (usually less than 2 years old) and should be uploaded with their application.
Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process. The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the 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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