Professor Hurley received his Ph.D. (1990) and B.Eng. (1985, 1st class honors) in Electronic Engineering at the University of Liverpool. Paul is the Head of the Nanoelectronic Materials and Devices Group at the Tyndall National Institute and a Research Professor in Depertment of Chemistry at University College Cork. Paul’s research group are exploring alternative semiconductor materials and device structures aimed at improving energy efficiency in the next generation of logic switches which will be used in applications, covering: nanoelectronics, flexible electronics, mobile communications and low power sensor technologies. Paul leads a research team of around ten PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, visiting students and Tyndall Research staff who perform research into alternative semiconductor materials and device structures aimed at improving the energy efficiency in the next generation of logic devices. In particular the group are working on III-V and 2D (e.g., MoS2, WSe2) semiconductors and their interfaces with metals and oxides which will form the heart of logic devices incorporating these materials. The group are also exploring the use of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) systems for the creation of solar fuels through water splitting reactions

Paul leads a research team of ten PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, visiting students and Tyndall Research staff who perform basic research on high dielectric constant (high-k) thin films for applications in nanoelectronics. The current research work covers use of high-k oxides in conjunction with III-V and 2D semiconductor materials for future energy efficient logic devices and the use of high-k films in integrated capacitors. The groups are also exploring the use of MOS systems in energy applications as well as investigating the electrical properties of emerging phase change materials. Paul received an Intel Outstanding Researcher award for his work in high-k/III-V interface defect studies in 2012. Paul is a member of the Technical Committee of the Insulating Films on Semiconductors (INFOS) conference and the International Workshop on Dielectrics in Microelectronics (WoDiM). In addition to research activities, he is a part time lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering at University College Cork. He has published over one hundred papers in the field of micro and nanoelectronics, and has given over 25 invited presentations and seminars in the high-k area from 2006 to 2014.

Semiconductor materials and devices for information and communication technologiesSpecialist guest lectures covering recent technology challenges and developments for state of the art transistors