Research Director – Advanced Packaging Programme

ResearchDirector-Advanced PackagingProgramme

Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term
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Location: Cork, Ireland
Duration: 5 years

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 innovationorganisationand it is the national focal point for excellence in deep-tech research,developmentand graduate training at the convergence of nanotechnology, microelectronics, photonics,electronicsand AI. Tyndall is recognised as an international research leader in semiconductor, chip,RFand 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 keyobjectiveis 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,internsand 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 m2research building is under developmentadjacent tothe Cork headquarters and there are developing plans to expand Tyndall’s existing Dublin research labs and toestablishother research sites within Ireland.

Tyndall’s expansion is also supported by recent national and EU funding wins for significant (M€10’s)additionalresearch equipment across a range of areas such as semiconductor processing, microscopy, quantum technologies, heterogeneous integration, ultra-high speed opticalcommunicationsand RF through THz characterisation.

About the Role

Reporting to the Tyndall CEOor nominee, you will lead the developmentand growthof a newResearch Programme in Advanced Packaging atTyndall National Institutein accordance withthe Institute’sforthcomingstrategic plan, ‘Tyndall 2030’and the ambitions of Ireland’s ‘Silicon Island’ strategy.

The new Research Programme will drive bothfrontierresearch and pilot-scaleprocess development, uniquely positioning Tyndall to translate research innovations into industrial impact within this strategically important national and global sector. It will build on existingpackaging and integrationactivities in which Tyndall hasestablishedan international reputation(e.g., within IPIC,PixAppandPIXEurope)while also launching new research initiatives in key areas with significant growth potential. These include the development of new packaging materials, advanced electrical, RF and opticalchipletpackaging, more accurate and complex package simulation and design models, package reliability and failure analysis, packaging for space and extreme environmental applications, as well as the development of breakthrough packagingprocesses for mass production, cost efficiency, and sustainability.Crucially, the programme willenable Tyndall’s strategic vision for heterogenous integration andsupportandfacilitateresearch teamsacrossthe Institutethrough direct and collaborative access to packaging facilities,expertiseand training. This will support Tyndall’s mission indeveloping andvalidatingnew materials, devices, and systems for quantum,RF/microwave, connectivity, biomedical,agritech,powerand otherapplications.

As a member of Tyndall’s Senior Leadership Team(SLT),you will be a major contributor to shaping and delivering the forthcoming Tyndall 2030 strategic plan.In particular, workingwith the Tyndall Chief Scientist, other senior research leaders, and the Tyndall Director of Strategic Developmentyou will help develop and deliver the Institute’s strategic research visionand priorities.

Bysecuring national and European funding you willrecruitand developresearchleaders,staffand students to create newindependentresearch groupsin the Advanced Packaging programme across relevanttechnicalareas(such asPackaging Simulation and Design; Optical Packaging; Electrical Packaging; Packaging Frontend and Materials; and Reliability and Failure Analysis).

In thisrole you will workwith Tyndall’s Director of Innovationand Industry Engagementindevelopingstrategic partnerships and collaborations with industrypartners,andlead the commercialisation ofnew ideasand innovations through the creation of high value start-ups with global reach.

As a member ofSLTand institutional leader you will help ensure the delivery of Tyndall’s mission, its development and sustainability as Ireland’s premier research institute and how it delivers impactacross Ireland, Europe and beyond.

• Strategic research leadership of the Advanced Packaging theme supporting Tyndall’s strategic plan, and national and European initiatives and strategies.
• Leadership and management of all aspects of the Advanced Packaging Research Programme across research,innovationand training.
• Development and management of core researchlaboratories,infrastructureand equipment in Advanced Packaging,facilitatingthe sharing of, and access to,these resources across the whole institute. This should include relevant internal training.
• Development of strategic research relationships with industry partners for the benefit of the whole institute including other programmes and centres.
• Maximise the impact of the research programme, through industry collaboration, commercialisation,industry access,and engaged research and public understanding of science.
• Develop and nurture spin out opportunities or otherwise support Irish start-ups.
• Significantly contribute to international thought leadership and road mapping through influential research papers, contributions to sectoral white papers or similar documents and initiatives.
• Develop a positive and progressive people culture for all staff and students in Advanced Packaging and ensure that they arekeyparticipants in institutional initiatives and activities.
• Ensure proactive recruitment and career development of staff and students including proactive succession planning, consistent with the plan for the research programme.
• Ensure excellent outcomes for postgraduate students and a best-in-class student experience.
• Ensure that the research activities of theresearch programmeare sustainably funded at the overall programme level on a proactive basis encompassingResearch Ireland, EI,EUand industry.
• Support the programme’s group heads and team leaders in securing and sustaining the funding necessary for their specific research areas.
• Ensuring full compliance with health and safety, quality improvement, finance,people and culture,and reporting requirements,and any external auditobligations.
• Engagement with Irish and European research and innovation funders and agencies such as Research Ireland, IDA Ireland, EnterpriseIrelandand the European Commission, in alignment with institutional needs and priorities.
• Close coordination and partnership with relevant units of University College Cork (UCC)and other higher education institutions in Ireland.
• Carry out anyadditionalduties as mayreasonably berequiredgiven thesenior institutional leadershiplevelof the post.

Essential Criteria

• APhDinphysics,engineering,technologyor related discipline.
• Significantdepth ofexpertiseandinternationally-recognisedresearch and innovationexcellencein the area ofadvanced packaging for semiconductors and chip technologies.
• Demonstrable international leadership and influence of technology roadmaps and innovations in advanced packagingasevidencedby external engagement and strategic positioning.
• Strong knowledge of thewholesemiconductor value chainand ecosystem trends, particularly in the context of the EU Chips Act andindustrial research and development.
• Significantresearchleadership and management experience, asevidencedby sustainedmanagementof amajorresearch group ormanagementofstructured activity in a funded research centre.
• Significanttrackrecordofmanagingsuccessful bids for large-scale competitive research funding awards.
• Track recordof developing major funded partnerships with industryin the area ofadvanced packaging.
• Experience of entrepreneurship and the development ofspin-outsor start-ups and/or experience of directly supporting the growth and development of start-up companies.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of research and innovationstrategicinitiatives,policies, and funding opportunities in Ireland, Europe and globally.
• Visionary leader with the ability to inspire,influence and develop others.
• Evidence of the successful development and support of emerging research leaders and positioning them asstandaloneprincipal investigators.
• Excellent communication skills and demonstrable ability to build consortia and develop effective technical ecosystems.
• Strong collaborative ethos, with a results-oriented approach.

Desirable Criteria

• Leadership of pan-Europeanstrategicresearch and innovation projectsrelated to Advanced Packaging.
• Successful research student supervision.

Conditions of Employment

Salary scale (new entrants): Senior Admin IIA (Grade 10) Salaryscale €129,651– €152,267 (Scale B) per annum. Salary placement on appointment will bein accordance withpublic sector pay policy.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor William Scanlon.

Closing date for applications is Thursday 9th April.

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.

A full candidate information pack is available by right clicking here and opening in a new window/tab.

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.At this time, Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies. xcfaprz Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer.