Biography
Leonard Hobbs graduated from UCC in 1986 with a 1st class honours degree in Electrical Engineering and was also awarded the title of graduate of the year by the college. He completed a Masters degree at the NMRC (now called Tyndall), at UCC in 1988. From 1988 to 1991 he worked as a research scientist at IMEC, Belgium.
In 1991 he joined Intel and was assigned to the development organisation at D2, California where he worked on Intel's first 200mm/0.5um technology. He transferred back to Ireland with Intel in 1992 and has completed two other assignments in Arizona and Portland during his time at Intel. He has worked on every technology transfer program to the Ireland site from the 200mm/0.5um process to the 300mm/0.65um process. He currently the manager of Intel Ireland's Technology and Manufacturing Research program. The Manufacturing technology research looks for innovative ways to improve productivity such as in predictive maintenance and virtual metrology. The Technology research is focused primarily on nanotechnology with a view to extending Moore's Law. The research includes such topics as alternative patterning techniques using self assembly, new memory structures using advanced magnetic layers, breakthrough methods for creating contacts to silicon, applications for carbon nanotubes in interconnect technology and new metal oxides for logic applications. The research is conducted in partnership with the Center for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN) at Trinity College Dublin and at the Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork. The research undertaken at the Leixlip campus includes designing and fabricating test structures for integrating nanomaterials and the corresponding advanced materials analysis.
Intel Ireland also works in collaboration with EU-based researchers via the EU 6th and 7th Framework Program, including research on carbon nanotubes, magnetic materials and photonics. Leonard is also responsible for Intel's involvement in the ENIAC Joint Undertaking in which he partners with companies such as STMicroelectronics in advanced manufacturing research. Other collaborators in Europe include the research facilities IMEC in Belgium, CEA Liten in France and Cambridge University in the UK.
Leonard is current leader of the Competence Centre for Applied Nanotechnology and is the chair of the Nanofab Consortium. He is a member of the External Advisory Board at Tyndall National Institute and is a member of the Executive Committee at the Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN) at TCD. He is also a member of the board of 'INSPIRE' integratied Nanoscience Platform for Ireland and the Centre for Research on Independent Living (TRIL). He is also a member of the Steering Committee for the European 450mm Equipment and Materials Initiative and most recently was appointed to the AENEAS/ENIAC Support Group.
