Postdoctoral Researcher in 2D Materials: TMD Materials Characterisation and Device Fabrication

Postdoctoral Researcher in 2D Materials: TMD Materials Characterisation and Device Fabrication

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 the Team
We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the 2D Materials And Devices Engineering (2D-MADE) Research Team within the Nanoelectronics Materials and Devices (NMD) Group at Tyndall National Institute. The 2D-MADE team is a dynamic, interdisciplinary group comprising PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and research professionals working on cutting-edge research in two-dimensional materials and devices.

About the Role
This postdoctoral position is part of a Research Ireland–funded project carried out in close collaboration with Intel and Synopsys as the project’s industry partners. The project aims to develop an experimentally validated, physics-based, multi-scale modelling framework that accurately captures the properties of large-area grown transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), including grain boundaries, point defects, and interfaces, informed by experimental data.

The successful candidate will focus on the experimental characterisation and device fabrication of 2D TMD materials. The role will involve the transfer, processing, and integration of TMD materials, followed by comprehensive structural, chemical, and electrical characterisation. The postdoctoral researcher will fabricate and test TMD-based electronic devices using state-of-the-art cleanroom and characterisation facilities at Tyndall, with selected advanced characterisation carried out in collaboration with academic partners.

Working closely with the modelling team on the project, the postdoctoral researcher will generate high-quality experimental datasets to inform and validate the modelling framework. This tightly coupled experiment-theory approach will contribute directly to the development of predictive tools for next-generation nanoelectronic devices, enabling high-performance and low-power technologies based on 2D materials.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Transfer, processing, and integration of 2D TMD materials for device fabrication
• Fabrication of nanoscale electronic devices using cleanroom-based micro- and nanofabrication processes
• Structural and chemical characterisation of 2D materials and fabricated devices
• Electrical characterisation and analysis of device performance and carrier transport behaviour
• Investigation of defect-, interface-, and contact-related effects in TMD-based devices
• Work closely with modelling and simulation researchers to provide experimental inputs and validation data
• Collaborate with academic and industrial partners, including Intel and Synopsys
• Work with the supervisor and project partners to deliver the project’s scientific goals
• Contribute to co-supervision and provide day-to-day guidance, mentoring, and support to PhD students and junior researchers in the group
• Disseminate research findings through high-quality peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations
• Demonstrate unbiased and proactive approach to advancing the project
• Contribute to the preparation of grant proposals and funding applications, and to the assessment of research findings for potential commercial exploitation, in conjunction with the supervisor.
• Engage in appropriate training and development opportunities to enhance transferable skills, career and reputation
• Participate in Education and Public Engagement activities, as required
• Ensure compliance 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 PhD (or near completion, with the PhD awarded by the start date) in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related discipline, with a strong focus on 2D materials or nanoelectronic devices
• Strong experimental background in 2D materials and nanoelectronic devices
• Proven experience in fabrication of 2D-materials-based nanoscale electronic devices in a cleanroom environment
• Hands-on experience with electron-beam lithography (EBL) patterning for nanoscale device fabrication involving TMD materials
• Hands-on experience with structural, chemical, and electrical characterisation of 2D materials and 2D-material-based devices
• A strong publication record in 2D materials, nanoelectronics, or related experimental device research
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of an interdisciplinary research team
• Demonstrated ability to work with consistent follow-through, strong attention to detail, and effective prioritisation of tasks to meet deadlines with minimal supervision
• Excellent analytical, scientific writing, communication, and organisational skills
• Demonstrated experience contributing to grant proposals or funding applications (evidence of successful grants is a strong advantage)

Desirable Criteria

• Direct experience with TMD materials and their application in electronic devices
• Familiarity with defects, interfaces, and contact resistance in 2D-material-based devices
• Experience correlating materials characterisation with device electrical behaviour
• Familiarity with additional cleanroom processes relevant to 2D materials, such as thin-film deposition, etching, and metallisation
• Demonstrated ability to manage time, priorities, and resources effectively
• Evidence of independent idea generation and leadership in the delivery of research projects

What we offer
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:
Impactful Work: Opportunities to contribute to ground-breaking research and innovation that shape Ireland’s economy and the society at large.
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. Tyndall National institute has a proactive entrepreneurial culture and we welcome applications from candidates who possess entrepreneurial and creative skills/experience, including the creation of technology start-ups.

Terms of Employment
Contract Category: Full-Time (12 months, with possible extension to 24 months subject to performance)
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Appointment may be made on the New Post Doctoral Researcher Scale Level 2A (points 1 - 3) salary €46,305 - €49,396 per annum. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with the public sector pay policy.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Dr Farzan Gity.
Closing date for applications for this position is 18 February 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