PhD – Development of an AI-enabled wearable digital healthtech electrochemical monitoring system for a selected chronic condition.

PhD – Development of an AI-enabled wearable digital healthtech electrochemical monitoring system for a selected chronic condition.

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 €60m, 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, and a new 17,000m2 research building is under development adjacent to the Cork headquarters.

About the Rinn Network
Tyndall is also a key partner in the Research Ireland Rinn network, which has been established to address the key challenges and opportunities of our time through excellence in research and innovation – igniting the next generation of positive societal, economic and environmental transformation for Ireland and the world. The Rinn network enables a systemic and strategic approach that aims to deliver solutions with real-world impact. Rinn empowers radical collaboration that operates across multiple research bodies in partnership with industry, government and wider stakeholders to create a unique research and innovation ecosystem of international significance and scale.  

Rinn AI brings together leading researchers, clinicians, engineers, and industry partners to develop the next generation of AI-enabled solutions, including leveraging emerging Digital Healthtech with multiparameter data streams, to enable identification and application of digital biomarkers, that inform actionable clinical decisions. 

About this Role
This PhD project will be initially focussed on developing new knowledge relating to novel multiparameter electrochemical sensor platforms as part of a novel Digital Healthtech solution for monitoring of selected biomarkers such as inflammatory markers. The project will initially focus on challenges related to continuous monitoring of immuno-electrochemical biomarkers from dermal interstitial fluids, addressing sensor surface biofunctionalisation challenges including sensitivity, reproducibility of measurements over time, prevention of biofouling, and ensuring biocompatibility. Through integration of multiple sensors into a multiparameter sensor platform, the project will investigate sensor designs, based on the need to minimise the form factor of the overall multiparameter sensor probe. These sensor solutions must also ensure compatibility with high-volume low-cost manufacture, and enable integration with a miniaturised electrochemical instrument (prototypes of this instrument have already been developed by the Tyndall Life Sciences Interface Group and would be available to this project – further development of the electrochemical instrument would be out of scope of this PhD project). The project will also explore the development of AI algorithms to define digital biomarkers, which combine the outputs of the prototype immune-electrochemical sensor system with other data streams.

This PhD project will build on the expertise of the Life Sciences Interface Group in Tyndall, and collaborators in Rinn AI, to create hardware and AI tools, which will provide the basis for new knowledge around the associations between changes in selected biomarkers, and the extent of symptoms for selected chronic conditions. The proposed sensor platform together with the developed AI algorithms are anticipated to result in high impact publications, presentations to leading international conferences, and generation of novel intellectual property.  

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform a state-of-the-art literature review of immuno-electrochemical based digital healthtech sensor systems for monitoring chronic conditions, including identification of current issues and gaps in knowledge.
• Identify the key issues around the use of electrochemical sensors for continuous monitoring of biomarkers in dermal interstitial fluids;
• Investigate and optimise solutions for biofunctionalization of immuno-electrochemical sensors to enable accurate and continuous monitoring of selected biomarkers;
• Develop AI algorithms based on the outputs of this sensor system together with other clinical data streams as part of a digital healthtech platform
• Prepare research papers for publication in scientific journals and conferences;
• Report results to team leaders, project partners and funding agencies;
• Participate in training, professional development opportunities, Education and Public Engagement activities, as required;
• Ensure compliance and support 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.

Essential Criteria

• A minimum of an Honours (2H1) Level 8 degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. biomedical engineering, electrical/electronic engineering, physics, biotechnology/biochemistry).
• Demonstrated experience and competence in electrochemistry.
• Demonstrated skills in biosensor development for life sciences applications.
• A demonstrated track record of laboratory experience and a willingness to adapt to a multidisciplinary field.
• Excellent communication skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Level 9 Degree in a relevant field;
• Prior experience in areas such as electrochemistry, microfluidics, medical device design and development, wearable technologies, and/or bioMEMS;

• Prior experience of advanced analytics and/or developing AI algorithms for multiparameter data streams;
• Demonstrated track record of scientific paper writing, conference presentation(s) and technical report writing;

What We Offer

• A generous tax-free scholarship stipend payment including tuition fees covered.
• 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

Terms of Studentship
Contract: 4 years Full Time/Fixed Term 
The annual stipend is €25,00.00. In addition, annual tuition fees will be paid by the Tyndall National Institute.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Dr Paul Galvin.
The closing date for applications for this position is 1pm, 28th August 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.