Kenneth Zick

Dr. Kenneth Zick is a Research Professor at the University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute (USC ISI), where he serves as Research Director of Transformational Computing. His work focuses on game-changing computer architectures, hardware, and systems for solving critical government problems, with expertise in unconventional computing, quantum computing, and bio-inspired systems.

• Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
• M.S. in Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas
• Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Dr. Zick's research interests span unconventional computing, bio-inspired systems, Ising machines, quantum annealing, FPGA-based solutions, and neuromorphic computing. His group develops hardware-centric algorithm discovery and Cosm, a heuristic algorithm for sparse Ising optimization. Current projects include superconducting digital architectures, analog-digital hybrid computing, and human-AI co-design for breakthrough hardware.

His team leverages advanced facilities such as USC ISI's MOSIS 2.0 and the California DREAMS hub in the DoD Microelectronics Commons, with expertise in high-speed I/O, FPGA prototyping, and radiation-hardened systems. He has received a NASA Fellowship for his Ph.D. work and mentored students like Aditi, who won the USC ECE Outstanding Academic Achievement Award.