David Zhigang Pan

David Zhigang Pan is a Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He also holds the Silicon Laboratories Endowed Chair. Prior to joining UT Austin, he was a Research Staff Member at IBM T. J. Watson Research Center from 2000 to 2003. His academic journey began with a B.S. from Peking University, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from UCLA.

• Research Areas: Electronic Design Automation (EDA), Machine Learning Hardware, FPGA Prototyping, Optical Computing, Hardware Security, and CAD for Emerging Technologies
• Academic Timeline: Assistant Professor (2003-2008), Associate Professor (2008-2013), Full Professor (2013-present)

His research focuses on design automation for mixed-signal circuits, GPU-accelerated EDA tools, and hardware-software co-design for AI. Recent work explores FFT-based optical neural networks and deobfuscation techniques for integrated circuits, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of machine learning, computer architecture, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Key publication trends reveal expertise in: VLSI design, lithography optimization, and deep learning applications for EDA tools. His work has been recognized with multiple Best Paper Awards at top conferences including DAC, ASP-DAC, and HOST.

• Awards: IEEE Fellow (2014), SPIE Fellow (2017), ACM SRC Graduate Category Honors for students
• Patents: 8 U.S. Patents in electronic design and hardware optimization

Prof. Pan has mentored 40 PhDs and postdocs who now hold key positions in academia and industry. He leads research initiatives involving GPU acceleration frameworks and optical computing architectures. His lab focuses on vertical integration of architecture, CAD tools, and fabrication technologies for next-generation hardware solutions.