Tiernan McCaughery 

I graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a Masters in Physics. After working as a Process Engineer at Seagate Technology for a year, I joined the CDT in 2019 and am the first to have undertaken an EngD project. I wanted to get more involved with the Research and Development side of HAMR and through the EngD pathway, I am able to work as a Research Engineer on site: combining my academic interests with valuable industrial experience. I am part of a team in the Seagate factory, with my work being rooted in the material research which overlaps between QUB and Seagate Technology on HAMR development.  

CDT EngD Project:  Integration of Novel Materials for Improved HAMR 3.0 ADC and Reliability 

Supervisors: 
Prof Robert Bowman, Queens University Belfast
Marcus Mooney, Seagate Technology Springtown

General Research/Science Interests: 
Plasmonics is a relatively new technology which has a wide range of applications that have not yet been fully realised. HAMR is a very exciting area to be in at present as it is set to create a new standard for memory storage capability. Beyond this, I hope to enjoy a career in material exploration in numerous fields (from renewable energy to mobile phone design). 

Successful Funding:  
Secured additional funding to attend SPIE Photonics West Conference in San Francisco February 2020 

CDT Involvement: 
I hosted the 2020 Conclave Virtual Event:  
‘Low Cost Planar Lightwave Circuit Platforms Suitable for Volume Manufacture and Novel Nanoplasmonic Devices Capable of Operating in Extreme Environments’  

Impact Activity:  
I am STEM Ambassador for both the School of Maths and Physics and Seagate Technology. This involves numerous outreach events involving prospective students and employees as a means to hopefully inspire them to embark on careers in material research. Given the nature of my doctorate, I am always keen to network and create new ties between industry and academia. I am also a member of the Smart City Initiative - a council scheme involved in developing sustainable development in Derry. 

Testimonial: 
Since joining PIADS I have developed as a research engineer both personally and academically. This CDT offers many opportunities which I wouldn’t have had access to through a standard PhD. The most positive part for me has been the social aspect that is so embedded into the PIADS culture.  

Contact me 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiernan-mccaughery-53289298/