SAE-21 Researcher in Optical Design and Biophotonics (Raydiant)

Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term

Biophotonics@Tyndall was established two years ago as a collaborative research programme based at the Tyndall National Institute led by Professor Stefan Andersson-Engels. The Group’s focus will be to form close collaborations with clinicians, research centers and companies to accelerate biophotonics technology and rapidly deliver breakthrough technologies into the hands of health-care providers. Using photonics as a driver for the faster development and deployment of more accurate, less invasive diagnostic and treatment methods for cancer and other diseases.  The new programme has been formed by the Tyndall National Institute, the Irish Photonic Integration Centre (IPIC) and University College Cork, under a €5M award from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) professorship award. 

An additional industrial project has been secured for the team. This is devoted to fetal monitoring during labor based on pulse oximetry. The present role is devoted mostly for this project and working with an industry partner, but will be fully integrated in the biophotonics team at Tyndall.

The candidate is expected to be creative, self-motivated, and should help create an efficient and friendly atmosphere within the Biophotonics team and beyond to all teams at IPIC and Tyndall. These positions will offer great opportunities for learning and to become internationally visible as the successful candidates will be part of building a new center for biophotonics with a potential to become a key player in the field.

Reporting to Stefan Andersson-Engels, the Researcher will conduct specified pieces of research as directed.  The role of the Researcher will be mainly, but not exclusively, to provide optical design and algorithm development support to the biophotonics team and carry out strategic research activities as planned in a detailed project plan for specific industry projects and in the general area of fetal pulse oximetry. The Researcher will also act as translator in a multidisciplinary research field: of research questions as well as of industry and academic research needs and capabilities; such that highly structured and well defined research projects can be devised, set up and executed.  In particular, the candidate will have a lead role in an industry collaboration project and will be a key person for the optical design and the biophotonics based algorithms.  The researcher will be expected to participate fully in collaborative projects.

Key responsibilities

• Work on all aspects of the proposed project, including hardware development, optical design, software development, data acquisition and analysis, communication and collaboration with the industrial and clinical partners.
• Conduct specified programs of research and participate in developing future research initiatives within the group
• Interact closely with postgraduate research students in support of their research in conjunction with an academic supervisor.
• Work with industry academic and partners to develop calls for proposals for research projects.
• Contribute to grant proposal writing for EU and other funding streams.
• Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which they are engaged, as directed.
• Engage in the wider research and scholarly activities of the research group.
• Carry out administrative work to support the programme of research.
• Contribute to costing research grant proposals and assist in the financial management of research projects.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with the Tyndall Quality Management system.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with the required Health and Safety standards.
• Carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.

Essential Criteria

• The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in one of the following disciplines: Physics, Applied Physics, or Biomedical engineering with a strong and proven background in photonics.
• A good understanding of biophotonics and optical imaging systems. The candidate must demonstrate an academic record of scientific excellence and independent research.
• Strong theoretical and experimental skills and hands-on experience with optical systems are essential.
• Good communication, writing, organization and interpersonal skills.
• Appropriate research experience.
• Appropriate technical competence and accomplishment.
• Highly self-motivated and able to demonstrate initiative.
• A capability of working within a project team to achieve results.
• A commitment to personal development.

Desirable Criteria

Experience of relevance for the fields of biomedical optics, imaging, spectroscopy, and/or within system integration is highly desired.

Good project management skills

Appointment may be made on the post-doctorate researcher scale €38,630 - €45,942 per annum.  Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Prof Stefan Andersson-Engels at stefan.andersson-engels@tyndall.ie

Application Instructions

Step 1 - Please click here to download the Application form and indicate the Job Reference SAE-21

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

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.