Research Centre: National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology
Level on Framework: Level 1
Post Duration: Fixed Term Contract up to 48 months

As part of this role the researcher will be required to participate in the DCU Research Career Framework. This framework is designed to provide significant professional development opportunities to Researchers and offer the best opportunities in terms of a wider career path. The role may include teaching duties to assist with module delivery.

Background

Dublin City University (www.dcu.ie) is a research intensive, globally engaged, dynamic institution which has developed its own research specialists, established internationally recognized centres of excellence that have substantive collaborative links with leading universities and industrial partners. DCU is distinguished both by the quality and impact of its graduates and by its focus on the translation of knowledge into societal and economic benefit. Through its mission to transform lives and societies through education, research and innovation DCU acts as an agent of social, cultural and economic progress. DCU is Ireland’s fastest growing university and now hosts more than 17,000 students across its three academic campuses: DCU Glasnevin Campus, DCU St Patrick’s Campus and DCU All hallows campus. DCU has a strong track record in attracting both Irish and European Union research funding under Horizon 2020 (and all previous Framework Programmes), Marie Curie Actions and Erasmus. We offer a dynamic and internationally-focused environment in which to advance your academic career.

The National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology (NCPST) is a multidisciplinary research centre comprising of research staff from the Faculty of Science & Health and the Faculty of Engineering & Computing at DCU. The Centre consists of approximately 80 members carrying out research in basic science and technological applications in academic and industrial collaborations. The core competence is the combined depth of knowledge in basic plasma and related scientific knowledge amongst the NCPST team and this is evidenced through our strong international reputation, proven publication and citation track records, training & education programmes specifically for industry, strong international alliances and significant scientific discoveries.

The Project and Role

The project title is “Tracking Ultrafast Electron Dynamics in Next Generation EUV Lithography (EUVL) Materials” and involves an international academic-industry collaboration funded by Science Foundation Ireland. The main objective is to detect and track ultrafast electron and energy transfer in materials on femtosecond timescales that yield promise for the next generation of resists for lithography on the few nm spatial scale. Experiments will be conducted in DCU and at international collaborator laboratories and facilities in Dublin, Warsaw, Munich along with EUV FELs.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

• Managing and further developing the ultrafast laser spectroscopy facility located in the Nanobio Research Facility (NRF) at DCU
• Managing and further developing the laser plasma spectroscopy laboratories located in the NCPST and the School of Physical Sciences at DCU
• Preparing for, and carrying out, fast and ultrafast time resolved spectroscopy (photon and particle) experiments at DCU, at international partner research laboratories and at international EUV/X-ray free electron laser (FEL) facilities
• Assisting with the supervision of B.Sc. project and M.Sc./Ph.D. project students
• Writing proposals. e.g., for access to large scale EUV and X-ray FEL facilities
• Writing reports, conference abstracts and research papers for facilities, funders and relevant journals
• Other duties as appropriate assigned by the project Principal Investigator

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required

The ideal candidate will have completed a PhD in physics or a closely related discipline. In addition, ideally, the candidate should have;

• Deep knowledge and experience working with/optimising fast and laser based ultrafast spectroscopic systems, including multi-mJ mode locked lasers: (e.g. Coherent Legend and/or Astrella), Q-switched lasers (e.g., Continuum Surelite) and Spectrometers (e.g. Newport TAS) – (essential)
• Deep knowledge and experience of working with harmonic generation systems – (essential)
• Deep knowledge and experience of accessing and working at international FEL facilities – (essential)
• Some experience in atomic and/or molecular structure computation (e.g., the Cowan suite of codes)
• Knowledge and experience of one or more of: MATLAB, Python, C++
• Excellent written and oral proficiency in English (essential)
• Excellent communication skills both written (for presentations) and verbal (for conference talks)
• Ability to prioritise workload and work to exacting deadlines
• Ability to work in a team and to take responsibility to contribute to the success of the team

Mandatory Training

The post holder will be required to undertake the following mandatory compliance training: Orientation, Health and Safety and Intellectual Property and Data Protection training. Other training may need to be undertaken when required.

Candidates will be assessed on the following competencies:

Discipline knowledge and Research skills – Demonstrates knowledge of a research discipline and the ability to conduct a specific programme of research within that discipline.

Understanding the Research Environment – Demonstrates an awareness of the research environment (for example funding bodies) and the ability to contribute to grant applications.

Communicating Research – Demonstrates the ability to convey their research with their peers and the wider research community (for example presenting at conferences and publishing research in relevant journals) and the potential to teach and tutor students.

Managing & Leadership skills - Demonstrates the potential to manage a research project including the supervision of undergraduate students.