Research Fellow – Thin Film Magnetics

Research Fellow – Thin Film Magnetics 
Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term

Are you interested in an opportunity to participate in some of the most exciting cutting-edge integrated magnetics research for integrated voltage regulator (IVR) technology at a world leading research centre?
Integrated Magnetics Group in Tyndall National Institute in Cork, Ireland welcomes you.

Established in 2004, the Tyndall National Institute is Ireland’s largest Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) and a flagship Institute of University College Cork. Specialising in both electronics and photonics, Tyndall works with global industry and academia to transform research into products in its core market areas of electronics, communications, energy, health, agri-tech and the environment. With a network of over 200 industry partners and customers worldwide, Tyndall is focused on delivering human and economic impact from excellence in research. Tyndall is home to a research community of 650 people of over 50 nationalities.

Integrated Magnetics Group @Tyndall
Tyndall’s Integrated Magnetics Group is widely recognised as a World Leader in the area of Integrated Magnetic Passives for Power Supply on Chip (PwrSoC) technology. With over 100 person years of research effort in this field, the group has created a multi-disciplinary skill set for Power Magnetics research which makes it unique within the global Power Electronics research landscape. Over a period of 20 years, Tyndall’s Integrated Magnetics group has demonstrated World-beating results in the area of Integrated Magnetics for On-Silicon and PCB-embedded applications. The group has developed innovative solutions in all aspects of Power Magnetics research, including design, material & process development, micro-nano-fabrication, materials and electrical characterization, packaging, and reliability study. The group’s research has had a very strong commercial impact with R&D partnerships, technology transfer and licensing with some of the world’s leading companies in magnetic components, silicon foundries, wafer-level assembly, SoC and electronics systems design. 

Background to the role
The Integrated Magnetics Group is involved in the European Chips JU FAMES Pilot line co-funded by the European Commission and Irish national funding agencies as part of the targeted initiative of the EU Chips Act. The implementation of the Chips JU pilot lines is expected to bridge the gap from lab to fab and will be available to a wide range of users, including academia, industry and research institutions.

The FAMES Pilot Line is the result of a remarkable European cross-border collaboration. The FAMES Pilot Line consortium, led by CEA-Leti, is composed of 4 Hosting Sites (CEA-Leti, Tyndall, VTT and SAL) and includes various other RTOs across Europe. 

With the goal of transferring technologies to the EU semiconductor industry, the FAMES Pilot Line will develop advanced technologies offering two generations of FD-SOI at 10nm and 7nm nodes, addressing the surging demand for FD-SOI technology. This FD-SOI platform will be enhanced with integrated non-volatile memory, radiofrequency components, 3D options, and magnetic inductances to improve power management. In FAMES, Tyndall will deliver the integrated magnetic devices and demonstrate improved power management combining its on-silicon thin film magnetics and micro-transfer printing with CEA-Leti’s power management ICs and high-density silicon capacitors.

Purpose of the Role
The purpose of this role is to develop novel magnetic materials and structures that include magnetic thin films, laminated films, and soft-magnetic composites for miniaturized integrated magnetics applications such as on-silicon and in-package inductors and transformers. A key aspect of this role is to align the above-mentioned thin film magnetics research to Tyndall’s Integrated Magnetics Research activity in the FAMES Pilot Line. The development of advanced thin magnetic films and their thorough magnetic characterization leading to the formation of a PDK (process development kit) for thin film magnetics fabrication at Tyndall’s state-of-the-art clean-room facility is an essential part of the role. In addition, the Research Fellow will collaborate with other research teams within and outside Tyndall for the delivery of the project and will engage with external suppliers and industry partners as and when needed.

This position offers excellent and timely career growth possibility. It offers great opportunities to influence the entire end-to-end design/development cycle of integrated magnetics and to become an internationally recognizable expert owing to Tyndall’s widespread collaboration with its pan-European research network and World-leading industry partners in semiconductor equipment, magnetic materials, magnetic component, and associated packaging etc.

This role is a prestigious role which represents a step up from Post-Doctoral researcher roles. While delivering for the project, The Research Fellow will design and implement a specific research programme in association with the PI, and will receive ample support from Tyndall to develop skills and competencies for this role and for a transition to the next career level.

To this end, the successful candidate will be supported in their development towards a senior researcher role within the group to lead an activity centred around novel magnetic materials for future Integrated magnetics technology. The Research Fellow will be supported in applying to relevant funding programmes to support and sustain their research activities, e.g. Research Ireland-IRC Pathway program, ERC Starting Grant, etc to develop their independent researcher career.

The candidate is expected to be ambitious, creative, self-motivated, and ready to enhance the efficient and stimulating atmosphere within the multi-disciplinary Integrated Magnetics group and elsewhere in Tyndall.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the supervisor and other team members in idea and strategy generation to deliver the outputs of the project and to contribute to raising the profile of this activity
• Coordinate and implement approved research towards developing a magnetic thin film fabrication process-flow through collaboration with other researchers and technicians. The key research objectives include: 
  • To optimize deposition process parameters for thin magnetic films and multi-layered magnetic laminates inside Tyndall’s state-of-the-art clean-room facility.
  • To characterize (magnetic, structural, and high-frequency) magnetic thin films and laminates to establish a process-structure-property interrelationship.
  • To explore magnetization dynamics and other physical properties of the thin magnetic films and laminates.
• Collaborate with other project partners and support the team in design and fabrication of magnetics-on-silicon devices such as on-chip solenoid and stripline inductors.
• Supervise and provide day-to-day advice, support, mentoring, and assistance to research graduates, students and other junior members, and contribute to the supervision of postdoctoral staff in the subject of magnetism and magnetic materials.
• Adopt an independent approach to carry the project work forward while proactively identifying opportunities for external funding, preparing research grant proposals, assessing potential commercial exploitation, and generating new Intellectual Properties (IPs) in collaboration with the research supervisor.
• Engage in the dissemination of the results to the relevant research stakeholders in the appropriate form such as reports result to team leaders, partners, and funding agencies and publications in the top-tier journals and at leading conferences in the field
• Communicate the benefits of the research to wider society through active participation in several Education and Public Engagement (EPE) activities, as required.
• Engage in appropriate training and development opportunities to develop own transferable skills, career and reputation.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with the Tyndall Quality Management system and the required Health and Safety standards in Tyndall.
• Carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.

Essential Criteria

• PhD in Materials Science, Engineering, Physics, or related discipline with typically 6+ years of postdoctoral experience
• In-depth knowledge of magnetism and magnetic materials, and deep-expertise in structural, magnetic, and electric characterization of thin films.
• Experience in micro-nano fabrication techniques such as film deposition, lithography, and etching in clean-room environment.
• Strong track record of publications in journals, conferences or patents and IP material.
• Evidence of idea generation capability and delivery – both technically and operationally – of successful research projects.
• Evidence of the ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
• Evidence of supervision and mentoring of researchers and students.
• Highly self-motivated and ability to take initiative.
• Excellent communication, writing, organization, and interpersonal skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Evidence of multi-disciplinary collaboration with external academic or industrial partners
• Experience in the micro-magnetic modelling
• Experience in high-frequency properties of magnetic and dielectric materials.

The duration of the contract is a for a fixed term of approximately 24 months with the possibility to extend by 18 months upon the availability of funding, satisfactory performance, mutual agreement and a detailed career development plan.

What we Offer
We offer progressive employment and training policies including opportunities for further studies. At Tyndall we value Ambition, Collaboration, Diversity, Excellence and Integrity. You will be supported throughout to grow your skillset and learn how to adapt in new challenges to develop your career.

As a Research Fellow you will avail of:
•            Individual Development Plans – Staff work with their managers to create detailed career “roadmaps” that take into account their interests and career aspirations as well as the business needs of their Centre and the Institute
•            Learning & Development Opportunities – Staff can take advantage of learning and development opportunities, including leadership and management development skills, project management, industry and job specific learning, and including general business, finance, and technology skills
•            Opportunities for mentoring and day-to-day technical supervision of postgraduate (PhD, Masters) and undergraduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers
•            Opportunities for Outreach and Public Engagement activities
•            Support for preparation of competitive research proposals.

As an equal opportunity employer we offer a comprehensive suite of flexible working and family friendly initiatives. A list of such initiatives is available on our webpage.

Tyndall has an Athena Swan Bronze award, reflecting our commitment to ensuring equity of opportunity for all researchers regardless of gender or ethnicity. We are actively improving our internal processes to build on the Athena Swan award and have a vibrant People and Culture team driving initiatives.

Tyndall has an active EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) group which delivers initiatives to enhance EDI within the Institute.

Informal enquiries may be made, in-confidence to Ranajit Sai.
Appointment may be made on the UCC Research Fellow scale € 65,889 - €71,796 p.a.  Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with the public sector pay policy.

Closing date of application is 1pm on 29th September 2025.
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.
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.

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.