Senior Researcher in GaN photonic devices

BC-73 Senior Researcher in GaN photonic devices

Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term

The III-V Materials and Device Group is part of the Photonics Research Centre at Tyndall National Institute, and is affiliated with the Department of Physics at University College Cork and also the Science Foundation Ireland IPIC Research Centre for Photonics. The group, led by Brian Corbett, develops and integrates advanced semiconductor photonic devices in collaboration with other research groups and with industry. Tyndall is currently home to 550 researchers and is undergoing expansion with a new building.

Applications are now invited for a Senior Researcher to lead the group’s research activities on GaN devices covering the UV and visible parts of the spectrum. The devices being investigated include LEDs, superluminescent LEDs, lasers and detectors for use in displays, communications and sensing applications. Special emphasis is now on developing integrated solutions by combining active devices with SiN/AlGaN waveguiding platforms by using transfer printing. The successful applicant will have a strong background in designing, building and characterising photonic devices with deep understanding of the underlying physics and technology. Ideally the person will also be familiar with the growth of GaN materials. In addition, she/he will have a track record of excellent research, including high quality publications as lead author and a demonstrated ability to develop and advance independent research ideas. She/he and will have won (or clearly demonstrated the potential to win) independent competitive post-doctoral funding/awards. Evidence of a strong interest in knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship, through industry collaborations or start-up creation/involvement, is desired.

The successful candidate will join the III-V Materials and Devices group as a Senior Researcher. The group comprises around 20 members including Senior Researchers, Postdocs, PhD and Masters Students and Interns with backgrounds in physics, electronic and electrical engineering. Research activities include InP, GaAs and GaN photonic device design, modelling, fabrication, characterisation and integration; Transfer printing is a core technique for heterogeneous integration. The group has independent laboratory facilities for device characteristics and its device fabrication is carried out in the state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities at Tyndall. There is strong and open collaboration with other research groups at Tyndall.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and provide technical leadership for GaN based devices at Tyndall
• Disseminate research progress through regular publications in the top-tier journals and at leading conferences in the field.
• Together with supervisor, develop a strategy including the acquisition of funding streams to underpin and grow the research activity. These efforts should include applications for individual grants of scale, such as national or international starting investigator awards, or similar.
• Contribute to the recruitment and mentorship of a team of students and postdocs.
• Develop Intellectual Property and actively pursue knowledge transfer opportunities by establishing industry collaborative projects and/or by contributing to the creation of a spin-out company.
• Develop a network of national and international collaborators and collaborative projects to expand the scope, reach and impact of the programme.
• Support and actively partner in the wider Group research and training programmes including PhD student supervision and mentoring. 
• Communicate the benefits of the research to wider society through active participation in several Education and Public Engagement activities per year.
• 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

Essential Criteria

• PhD in Physics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering or a related subject.
• 3+ years post PhD research experience in growth/fabrication of photonic materials and device research.
• A track record of successful research in a relevant field as evidenced by publications at leading conferences and in high quality journals.  
• Deep technical knowledge on high performance GaN based LEDs/lasers/detectors.
• Demonstration of knowledge generation through co-operations and collaborations, including taking a leading role in the execution of such projects.
• Demonstration of generating new research ideas and a commitment to exploring funding opportunities to pursue them.
• Highly self-motivated and able to demonstrate self-starting initiative.
• Ability to communicate technical ideas clearly in writing.
• Demonstration of interpersonal skills and team working.
• A commitment to knowledge transfer to industry including spin-out creation.
• A commitment to education, public outreach and personal development.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of PhD student mentorship/co-supervision.
• Experience of working within multi-partner collaborative research programmes.
• Experience of working in shared laboratory facilities.

Appointment will be made on the Senior Researcher I/Admin III (6) scale € 52,068- € 62,166 per annum.  Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Brian Corbett at brian.corbett@tyndall.ie.

Closing date for application is 28th April, 2022.

Application Instructions

Step 1 - click here to download and complete the application form with Job Reference BC-73

Step 2 - return the completed application form, together with your CV and motivation letter to careers@tyndall.ie.

Handwritten forms will not be accepted. No late applications will be accepted.

A full candidate information pack is available to download by clicking here.

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.

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.