MWA-02 Sparkle Marie-Curie Fellowships in Photonics 

Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term

The Irish Photonics Integration Centre (IPIC) is emerging as one of Europe’s top research centres in photonics integration, incorporating the expertise of 18 Principal Investigators (PIs) covering topics from photonics theory through to full system development, i.e. the full technology development cycle where the underpinning sciences are explored in parallel to the development and fabrication of novel prototype devices and systems.

IPIC is focused on training Europe’s future photonics research leaders and is currently hosting the SPARKLE fellowship programme. It is co-funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action COFUND programme and Science Foundation Ireland offering 27 x two year postdoctoral fellowships. Positions are open to experienced researchers of any nationality, resident anywhere in the world, seeking a prestigious career development path in the field of photonics research and innovation. Fellows will be based in Ireland at one of the following IPIC Academic partner locations. Applicants have the academic freedom to choose their research topic (within the remit of the IPIC themes), supervisor, academic host organisation and the secondment company.

Research Themes of IPIC Include:

• Biomedical
• Optical Communications
• Monolithic and Heterogeneous Integrations
• Packaging and Hybrid Integrations

Sparkle will provide fellows with:

• An advanced personalised training & development programme in a cutting-edge research environment.
• An expanded set of translational skills, including prototype development and fabrication, commercialisation, communication and dissemination, leadership, grant proposal writing, project and time management.
• Enhanced innovative and entrepreneurial awareness skills through training on subjects such as market awareness, technology transfer, entrepreneurship and industry engagement.
• A career-oriented, up to 6-month industry placement with either a global technology leader or rapidly growing SME.
• Participation in IPIC’s comprehensive and diverse Education and Public Engagement (EPE) programme, to develop and apply dissemination skills with different audiences from students to the general public.

Essential Criteria

• Eligibility of Applicants: The fellowships are targeted at experienced researchers where the researcher must be in possession of a doctoral degree OR have at least four years of full-time equivalent research experience in academia or industry. International mobility is a core element of the SPARKLE programme, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity, such as work or study, in the Republic of Ireland for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the deadline date of the open call. The only exception is for individuals who are reintegrating into Europe or restarting their research career: in this case, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Ireland for more than 3 of the previous 5 years.

• Eligibility of Project Proposal: To be considered admissible, the proposals must meet all criteria listed in the candidate information pack on the SPARKLE website.

• Secondment Requirement: Secondment to a suitable industry partner, located anywhere in the world is a mandatory requirement of the SPARKLE fellowship and must be relevant to the applicant’s project and career development. The duration of the secondment will be between 3 to 6 months and can be a single period or divided into shorter mobility periods.

Open Call application closing dates:

Call 4 Closes: July 30th 2021
Call 5 Closes: December 30th 2021

Fellows will receive a gross salary (living and mobility expenses included) of €40,000 per annum and those with a family will receive €45,400 per annum.

Application guidelines and further details can be found at: https://www.ipic.ie/sparkle/

Any queries relating to this position can be forwarded to Melissa Walsh on email Melissa.walsh@tyndall.ie.

Application Instructions

Step 1 - Click here to download and complete the Application form and indicate the Job Reference MWA-02

Step 2 – Return the completed Application form, together with your CV and motivation letter to careers@tyndall.ie.

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. In special circumstances the panel may consider a prior degree in English (e.g. Master thesis written in English) as evidence of English language proficiency.

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.