Research Assistant in Biomechanics Data Capture and analytics
Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term (4 months)

About Tyndall
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 innovation organisation and it is the national focal point for excellence in deep-tech research, development and graduate training at the convergence of nanotechnology, microelectronics, photonics, electronics and AI. Tyndall is recognised as an international research leader in semiconductor, chip and 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 key objective is 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, interns and 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 m2 research building is under development adjacent to the Cork headquarters and there are developing plans to expand Tyndall’s existing Dublin research labs and to establish other research sites within Ireland.

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

About the Team
The WSN group within Tyndall is a multi-national transdisciplinary team of researchers developing embedded systems incorporating sensors, energy sources/conversion, communications and edge AI to create new data sets from sensors deployed ubiquitously in and around our working and living environment – Human Centric Systems.

This research position funded by the Research Ireland funded INSIGHT centre for Data analytics programme at Tyndall National Institute and University College Cork is offering a Research Assistant Position in the development of data sets associated with human motion and associated analytics. The research will be hosted in the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) group.

About the Role
We are seeking a motivated Biomechanics Research Assistant to support cutting-edge research in human movement analysis using motion capture technologies. This role contributes to projects aimed at improving clinical outcomes and rehabilitation strategies through quantitative assessment of human biomechanics.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Operate and maintain motion capture systems (e.g., Vicon, Qualisys) for data collection and other data acquisition systems (IMUs, EMG etc.).
Assist in designing and conducting biomechanical experiments involving human participants.
Process and analyze kinematic and kinetic data using specialized software (e.g., MATLAB, Python, Visual3D).
Support data interpretation and contribute to research publications and presentations.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including clinicians, engineers, and data scientists.
Ensure compliance with ethical standards and data protection regulations.

Additional Responsibilities

Activities will include focused research including multi modal data capture and analysis
Engagement in the wider INSIGHT Centre
The candidate will be expected to write scientific publications associated with their work and travel to international conferences, workshops, industry and project meetings.
Participate in Education and Public Engagement activities.
Ensure compliance with Tyndall's Quality Management, and Health and Safety standards.
Perform additional duties as required within the scope of the post

Essential Criteria

Masters degree in biomechanics, biomedical engineering, kinesiology, or related field.
Experience with motion capture systems and biomechanical data analysis.
Strong programming skills (e.g., MATLAB, Python).
Excellent organizational and communication skills.
Track record in publishing research outputs in peer reviewed articles

Desirable Criteria

Experience working with clinical populations.
Familiarity with machine learning or statistical modeling.
Prior involvement in peer-reviewed research.
Evidence of entrepreneurial experience and creative skills/creativity

What We Offer
Apart from offering a position in a very successful and positive research environment, with a collaborative ethos full of diverse competencies to boost your career, we offer the following:

Impactful Work: Opportunities to contribute to ground-breaking research and innovation that shape Ireland’s economy and the society at large.
Continuous Learning: Strong support for formal training, further study and professional development.
Interdisciplinary Environment: Where academia, industry, and innovation intersect - supported by cutting-edge infrastructure and expert knowledge.
Blended Working: Flexibility to work remotely and on-site, where the role allows.
Comprehensive Benefits: Access to UCC pension, long-term illness benefit, life assurance, and more.
Generous Leave: Competitive annual leave entitlements.
Equity & Inclusion: Athena Swan Bronze award holder, with ongoing initiatives led by a dedicated People and Culture team to ensure equity for all.
Core Values: A culture grounded in Ambition, Collaboration, Diversity, Excellence, and Integrity.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: A proactive, innovation-driven environment that welcomes entrepreneurial and creative thinkers, including those with start-up experience.
Supportive Onboarding: Structured induction and mentoring to help new hires integrate and thrive.
Vibrant Culture: A collaborative, people-first workplace with a strong sense of community.

Terms of Employment
Contract Category: Full-Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term (4 months)

Appointment may be made on the UCC Research Assistant Scale - €33,291 - €43,372 per annum. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with the public sector pay policy.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Dr Brendan O’Flynn
Closing date for applications for this position is 1pm, 21st November 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.
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.

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

Research Assistant in Biomechanics Data Capture and analytics

Benefits

Job Description