Post doctoral Researcher-Optical Sensing Technologies for Green-House Gases

FG-14 Post doctoral Researcher on Optical Sensing Technologies for Green-House Gases

Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term

Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher with experience in optics, free-space optics, packaged semiconductor lasers. Tyndall is a leading deep-tech European research institute and is one of Ireland’s six National Labs, specialising in both electronics and photonics. Tyndall works with industry and academia from fundamental research to applications in its core areas of electronics, communications, energy, health, agri-tech & the environment. Tyndall is home to a research community of 600 people of 48 nationalities, including over 150 postgraduate research students. This project is part of a portfolio of projects with industrial partners at the SFI Irish Photonic Integration Centre (IPIC), a leader in photonic integration technologies, packaging, and applications in communications and biophotonics.

We are seeking to create an experimental testbed and proof-of-concept demonstrator with our academic partner at Queen’s University Belfast to demonstrate the viability of integrating optical sources and detectors with a specialised gas cell unit for sensing. This is a very collaborative project, requiring multi-disciplinary skills, travel, attention to detail and ability to work within short deadlines. 

This post is primarily funded for 16 months from November 2022 to February 2024.

Role Summary

HIGH-GREEN is a project led by Dr Fatima Gunning at Tyndall and Dr Hamza Shakil at QUB, which aims combine optical technologies such as lasers, detectors, comb generators. It is expected that the successful candidate will create and develop on a portable optical testbed to enable light coupling and detection with the gas cell unit developed in QUB. Although some training is provided, it is expected that the successful candidate will have prior experience in optical experimental labs, can work independently, meeting the project outcomes, and work collaborative with the diverse team of researchers within Tyndall, QUB and with our commercial and academic partners.

This post will enable you to grow your independence skills, leadership and technical skills in optical sensing and spectroscopy.

The successful candidate will

• Work in partnership with our academic collaborator;
• Apply skills in other areas of optical communications;
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, learning from different skill sets;
• Be encouraged to attend further training events, aligned with a career training plan;
• Seek avenues for publication and dissemination (pending approval of all partners);
• Travel between partner organisations for joint experiments.

Other responsibilities

• Participate in Education and Public Engagement activities, as required.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with the Tyndall Quality Management system and required Health & 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, Electronic Engineering or closed related fields, in particularly in Optical Sensing and/or Communications (optical fibre communications, optical free-space communications, optical sensing a spectroscopy, for example). Those without a PhD, but with significant experimental experience with free-space optics sensing, are also encouraged to apply, and evidence of such must be included.
• Evidence of experimental abilities in an optical fibre communications lab, such as fibre splicing, spectral analysis, laser characterisation, free-space optical alignment, detection algorithms etc.
• Evidence of basic understanding of optical spectroscopy techniques or optical gas sensing.
• Evidence of simulations skills with VPI Transmission Maker or equivalent software.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in a diverse environment.

Desirable Criteria

• Complex optical communications simulations skills in Python/Matlab or other software.
• Strong problem-solving skills and initiative with demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability as a strong team player with high level of flexibility and the confidence to work independently.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be working primarily within Tyndall campus in Cork and with our academic partner in QUB, in person, full-time.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to the Principal Investigator, Dr Fatima Gunning, at fatima.gunning@tyndall.ie, including title of post.

The appointment may be made on the Post-Doctoral Researchers scale €41,207- €47,477 p.a. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with the public sector pay policy.

Application Instructions

Step 1 - Click here to download and complete the application form and indicate Job Reference FG-14.

Step 2 - Return the completed application form, together with your CV and one-page cover letter specifically addressing how the candidate fulfils the essential criteria to careers@tyndall.ie.

Please ensure that your motivation letter, CV and application letter are submitted in pdf format.

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