Application scientist working with semiconductor materials and devices
Dr Bill Henry, Application Scientist working with semiconductors
What are your main tasks and responsibilities?
My role is the promoting of new technologies produced in the research group. I am focused mainly on the µLED, which is a semiconductor-based light source used in a range of applications.
This work involves meeting companies, producing flyers and informational brochures, designing demonstrator devices to showcase the capabilities of the µLED and working with process engineers to produce the chips.
Describe a typical day
It varies quite a lot. Sometimes I am under pressure to produce a demonstrator device for an upcoming company visit.
This will mean spending most of my time in the lab working on the device, designing it at my computer or coordinating with co-workers to ensure that all the parts are being produced to the right spec and in the right timeframe.
Alternatively I could be dealing with clients, via email or on the phone, to get feedback on our suggestions or devices produced. We have done quite a bit of work publicising our technology and this has required me to develop promotional brochures and talk with journalists.
What are the main challenges?
It is quite difficult to get companies to accept technology they didn’t develop themselves or don’t fully understand. You have to put forward the best possible case for your technology, both from a scientific angle and a compelling business reason.
You also have to be creative when designing demonstrators or thinking up new applications for the µLED.
What’s cool?
I get to work on all aspects of the demonstrator devices, from the initial design to chip fabrication all the way to assembly. It is exciting to come up with an idea and work with other people to produce a working model.
The devices we work on are tiny (100 to 500 µm) so some of the equipment used is state-of-the-art and pretty cool.
Seeing pictures of surfaces magnified times 100,000 isn’t something most people get to do. The potential to make a difference to people’s lives through new healthcare devices is also exciting, although sometimes it can feel a long way off.
What’s not so cool?
It can take quite a while for a design to come to fruition.
For example it takes up to six weeks for a semiconductor fabrication run, with expensive materials, processing and man-hours required. It can be frustrating when an oversight can cause a demonstrator to not respond as you hope.
What particular skills do you bring to your workplace?
My PhD is in chemistry, while most people in the group are physicists. This gives me a different perspective on a lot of applications we are developing.
They tend to focus on the materials and how phenomena are created, while I am more interested in dealing with the results. I am creative and innovative, which is important when developing ideas for demonstrators and applications.
I am also good at dealing with people, whether by phone or email, or when giving presentations.
What subjects did you take in school, and how have these influenced your career path?
My subjects were heavily influenced by the physical sciences – maths, physics, chemistry – applied maths and economics. Obviously they are all very useful for my current role.
Today I even used the equation of a circle to estimate the cost to produce semiconductor chips!
It is important to have some understanding of a range of subjects, as science is becoming more multi-disciplinary while people’s jobs are more and more varied.
The ability to deal with numbers and grasp difficult ideas is inherent to science but it is increasingly important in a wide range of positions.
What is your education to date?
I completed my leaving cert in 1996 – Maths, English, Irish, French, Economics, Physics, Chemistry and Applied Maths.
Degree in chemistry from UCD – 2000.
PhD chemistry from DCU – 2006.
What aspects of your education have proven most important for your job?
The problem-solving skills that I developed during my PhD have been invaluable. It gives you the confidence and ability to approach a difficult task and break it into manageable pieces.
Once you have written a 200-page thesis most things seem achievable in comparison. During my degree I was always most interested in the subjects which dealt with the effects of light on material. This can range from how a TV or display works to the processes behind photosynthesis for life.
What personal qualities do you have that helps you in your career?
First of all you have to have an interest in the subject. I have always been drawn to maths and sciences so it makes working at them more exciting.
To be successful in any job you need to be a hard worker. I feel I learnt this from both my parents as well as the skills to be an efficient worker.
You will always meet hiccups along the way but can’t let them put you off too much. These qualities are true for all jobs and are evident in most successful people, from footballers to politicians.
What is your dream job?
I still want to be a professional footballer, although the chances of that are quite slim now. I’d even settle for being a pro-rugby player these days.
Alternatively I would like to become the CEO of a company that designs new and innovative solutions for a variety of applications.
Steve Jobs’s role in Apple is pretty cool (and I’d say the pay isn’t bad either). Their ability to develop genre-defining products is really inspiring.
What advice would you give to someone considering this job?
You need a degree in science at least. The PhD has helped me a lot with the organisational and problem-solving side of the job.
The ability to work independently is also important. You have to like meeting and dealing with people as it is the end user that you are trying to design the product for.
What kinds of work experience would provide a good background for this position?
My job is quite broad so there are a variety of different roles within it. For the design and fabrication part you would need to see the work that an engineer does – seeing how things work and how to improve them.
The other part of my job involves meeting potential customers and finding out their needs. To get experience of this you could see the tasks performed by a travelling salesman.
