Dr. Emanuele Pelucchi is a Research Professor and Head of the Epitaxy and Physics of Nanostructures (EPN) group at Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork. His research focuses on quantum technologies, epitaxial growth (MBE/MOVPE), quantum dot physics, and photonic integration. He leads a world-class MOVPE facility, pioneering developments in site-controlled quantum dots and entangled photon emitters. Pelucchi's work has resulted in over 129 international publications with an h-index of 28 (Scholar), including contributions to Nature Photonics and NanoLetters. He has held a Science Foundation Ireland Principal Investigator grant since 2006, establishing his group at Tyndall in 2007. His expertise spans semiconductor nanostructures, including III-V materials and quantum optics. Pelucchi actively reviews for top journals and chairs international conferences, contributing to the field's academic discourse. His MOVPE laboratory is recognized as a key resource for III-V materials, serving as a secondary supplier to the UK National Centre for III-V Materials. Pelucchi's research bridges fundamental physics and applied photonics, driving advancements in quantum information processing and optoelectronic devices.
Debbie Senesky is an Associate Professor at Stanford University in both the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department and the Electrical Engineering Department, as well as a Senior Fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy. She serves as the Principal Investigator of the EXtreme Environment Microsystems Laboratory (XLab) and Site Director of nano@stanford. Dr. Senesky received her B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California (2001), followed by M.S. (2004) and Ph.D. (2007) degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining Stanford, she held positions at GE Sensing (formerly NovaSensor), GE Global Research Center, and Hewlett Packard. Her research focuses on developing nanomaterials and electronic systems capable of operating in extreme environments, including high-temperature conditions for Venus exploration, microgravity synthesis of nanomaterials, and harsh environment electronics. Dr. Senesky's work bridges multiple disciplines, connecting aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, and space technology to solve challenges in extreme environment applications. Dr. Senesky has made significant contributions to the field of high-temperature electronics, GaN-based sensors, graphene aerogel synthesis in microgravity, and materials for space applications. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on practical applications of these technologies, particularly for space exploration and extreme environment sensing. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), NASA (2025) Emerging Leader Abie Award from AnitaB.org (2018) Early Faculty Career Award from NASA (2012) Gabilan Faculty Fellowship Award (2012) Sloan Ph.D. Fellowship (2004-2006) Dr. Senesky actively advises students at all levels, from undergraduate to postdoctoral researchers, and has established herself as a leader in promoting diversity in STEM through her role as Faculty Advisor for the Stanford Chapter of the National Society of Women Engineers. Her collaborative approach is evident in her numerous interdisciplinary projects and partnerships with NASA, industry, and other research institutions. She directs the EXtreme Environment Microsystems Laboratory (XLab), which focuses on developing technologies for operation in extreme environments including high temperature, radiation, and microgravity conditions. The lab's work has applications for space exploration, particularly for Venus missions, as well as terrestrial applications requiring robust electronics.
Fred A. Kish is the MC Dean Distinguished Professor and Director of the NC State Nanofabrication Facility at North Carolina State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1992). His research focuses on Photonics, Optoelectronic Devices, and Compound Semiconductor Materials , with emphasis on photonic integrated circuits (PICs), quantum information science, and semiconductor material engineering. He has co-invented foundational technologies for LEDs, VCSELs, and large-scale PICs, contributing over $7B in commercialized products. His leadership includes roles at Hewlett-Packard, Agilent Technologies, and Infinera Corporation, where he pioneered optical communication systems. Dr. Kish is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Optica, and IEEE, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. His awards include the IEEE David Sarnoff Award and the John S. Risley Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He has authored 170+ peer-reviewed publications, 135+ patents, and 5 book chapters. His current work drives advancements in wide bandgap semiconductors and photonic integration for next-generation communications and sensors. Labs/Teams: Directs the NC State Nanofabrication Facility, a hub for semiconductor innovation. Collaborates on the CLAWS Hub, a $39.4M CHIPS Act-funded regional semiconductor innovation initiative.
Said Hamdioui serves as a full Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science at Delft University of Technology. His research focuses on cutting-edge hardware architectures for neuromorphic computing and energy-efficient AI acceleration, with particular emphasis on memristor-based systems, emerging memory technologies, and fault-tolerant designs for edge applications. His research interests span Neuromorphic Computing , Memristor-Based Architectures , and Energy-Efficient AI Hardware , addressing critical challenges in hardware security, computation-in-memory, and reliable edge AI deployment. Recent work demonstrates significant advancements in RRAM/FeFET testing methodologies, spiking neural network implementations, and spin wave computing alternatives to traditional CMOS. His publications reveal strong trends toward real-world deployment of brain-inspired hardware with practical constraints like power efficiency, testability, and security. Award highlights include: DATE'20 Best Paper Award DFT'21 Outstanding Student Paper ETS 2021 Best Paper Award LATS 2018 & 2022 Best Paper Awards Professor Hamdioui actively contributes to the research community through editorial roles at IEEE Transactions on VLSI Systems , IEEE Design & Test , and Journal of Electronic Testing from 2017-2018. His leadership in multi-partner projects like CONVOLVE and NEUROKIT2E demonstrates strong industry-academia collaboration for edge AI solutions. Current work shows increasing focus on practical deployment challenges including in-field fault monitoring, security vulnerabilities in neuromorphic systems, and realistic brain simulation frameworks.
Suresh K. Sitaraman is a Regents' Professor and Morris M. Bryan, Jr. Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology's George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. His primary research focuses on Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) and Design, manufacturing processes, micro/nano engineering, and mechanics of materials. He leads the Computer-Aided Simulation of Packaging Reliability (CASPaR) Lab and is involved in flexible hybrid electronics research through the Flexible Electronics Center . Dr. Sitaraman holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University (1989), M.A.Sc. from the University of Ottawa (1985), and B.E. from the University of Madras (1982). His research includes developing novel techniques like fixtureless magnetic actuation for interfacial fracture testing, compliant micro-scale interconnects for stress mitigation, and synchrotron X-ray diffraction analysis for through-silicon vias (TSVs). He has pioneered studies on carbon nanotube forests' mechanical properties and reliability challenges in 3D microsystems. His awards include the NSF CAREER Award (1997-2002), ASME Fellow designation (2004), and Sigma Xi Sustained Research Award (2008). He has authored over 150 publications and holds multiple patents on compliant interconnect technologies and packaging reliability solutions. Key Research Themes: Micro/nano-scale material characterization, physics-based predictive modeling, flexible electronics, 3D integration, and thermal management. Labs/Initiatives: CASPaR Lab ( caspar.gatech.edu ), Flexible Hybrid Electronics Center. Industry Impact: Contributions to semiconductor packaging, wearable electronics, and advanced manufacturing techniques.
Nicola Nicolici is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McMaster University. His research focuses on methods and algorithms for the design of digital integrated circuits and systems, with significant contributions in manufacturing test, post-silicon validation and debug. His work has expanded to include embedded systems, low-energy computing, and custom hardware-accelerated computing systems. Professor Nicolici's research interests span multiple areas of digital system design and validation. His early work focused on manufacturing test methodologies and power-aware testing strategies for integrated circuits. More recently, he has made significant contributions to post-silicon validation techniques, including constrained-random stimuli generation, trace signal selection, and bit-flip detection. His research has evolved to address emerging challenges in embedded computing systems, low-energy design, and specialized hardware acceleration for various applications including deep neural networks and signal processing. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward hardware acceleration for specialized computing tasks. The research spans matrix multiplication algorithms (Strassen and Karatsuba), memory system optimization (DDR5 calibration), FPGA-based radar processing, and neural network acceleration. His work consistently bridges theoretical algorithm development with practical hardware implementation considerations, particularly focusing on precision analysis, fault tolerance, and energy efficiency. The research demonstrates a clear progression from traditional digital circuit testing to more complex system-level validation and acceleration techniques. Professor Nicolici has been actively involved in teaching courses related to system-on-chip design and test, digital systems, and embedded systems. His teaching portfolio includes advanced courses such as System-on-Chip (SOC) Design and Test and Digital Systems Design , reflecting his expertise in the field. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided text, his extensive publication record suggests ongoing research funding support. His research has contributed significantly to the fields of digital circuit testing, post-silicon validation, and hardware acceleration. The work has practical applications in semiconductor manufacturing, embedded systems design, and specialized computing architectures. His recent focus on neural network acceleration and memory system optimization reflects the evolving landscape of computer architecture research.
Kaushik Nayak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad . His research spans semiconductor device physics, mesoscopic electronics, and electro-thermal effects in nanoscale transistors, with recent work on diamond MOSFETs, 2D material contacts, and thermal resistance in nano-sheet FETs. Ph.D., Indian Institute of Technology Bombay M. Tech., Microelectronics, IIT Bombay B.E., Electronics & Telecommunication, Utkal University He teaches advanced courses on semiconductor device modeling, mesoscopic electronics, and electromagnetic wave propagation. His publications focus on nanoelectronics, device variability, and high-temperature operations. Contact: knayak@ee.iith.ac.in .
Jinsong Huang serves as Adjunct Professor in the Materials Science and Engineering department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he leads an interdisciplinary research group focused on perovskite-based electronic materials and devices. His laboratory, housed in Murray Hall 1115, maintains active collaborations with academia, industry, and national laboratories while training next-generation scientists and engineers for competitive job markets. Dr. Huang earned his educational credentials through a rigorous academic path: Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from UCLA (2007), M.S. in Semiconductor Physics from Chinese Academy of Sciences (2003), and B.E. in Materials and Photoelectronic Physics from Xiangtan University (2000). His research program spans Perovskite Solar Cells , Photodetectors , and X-ray Imagers , with particular emphasis on fundamental material physics, device design, stability enhancement, and scalable manufacturing. The group's work bridges applied research with deep scientific understanding, focusing on high-performance, low-cost electronic materials that address critical energy and medical imaging challenges. Current projects include self-powered photon-counting detectors, bifacial perovskite modules, and all-perovskite tandem solar cells. Analysis of recent publications reveals a strategic research trajectory toward commercialization of perovskite technologies, with increasing focus on stability, scalability, and real-world performance metrics. The work spans fundamental science (defect engineering, crystal growth) to applied technologies (medical imaging detectors, flexible solar cells), demonstrating remarkable breadth while maintaining technical depth in perovskite material systems. Highly Cited Researcher 2021 in Material Science and Chemistry Principal Investigator for $1.5 million UNC System Research Opportunities Initiative (2025) Multiple student/postdoc awards including Postdoctoral Awards for Research Excellence Consistent high-impact publications in Nature, Science, and Advanced Materials Huang actively mentors students and postdocs, with notable alumni including four of the 41 Tar Heels ranked as 'highly cited researchers' in December 2023. His research group has secured significant funding including the recent $1.5 million UNC System grant for 'Ultra-High Efficiency Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells' focusing on North Carolina's energy production and reduced fossil fuel dependence. The laboratory maintains strong industry partnerships that facilitate technology transfer and real-world implementation of research findings. The Huang Research Group operates as a dynamic interdisciplinary team with scientists from chemistry, materials science, physics, and electrical engineering backgrounds. Their collaborative culture has produced numerous breakthroughs including record-efficiency perovskite modules certified by NREL, self-powered photon-counting detectors published in Nature, and lead-recycling technologies highlighted in Nature Communications. Current facilities support crystal growth, device fabrication, and advanced characterization of perovskite materials for both energy and radiation detection applications.
Hari Nair is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Cornell University, part of the College of Engineering. His research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of complex oxide thin films using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), with applications in power electronics, quantum materials, and optoelectronics. B.Tech. in Engineering Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, 2006 M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2008 Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2013 His research interests lie at the intersection of semiconductor physics, materials synthesis, and advanced functional materials. He specializes in epitaxial strain engineering, heterostructure design, and the control of electronic and magnetic properties in oxide thin films. His vision is to leverage novel materials to enable revolutionary advances in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on β-Ga₂O₃ for high-power devices and ruthenate-based quantum materials such as Sr₂RuO₄ and SrRuO₃. His work spans ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors, strain-engineered phase transitions, superconductivity, and spin-orbit phenomena. Techniques include MBE growth, THz spectroscopy, and advanced electron microscopy. Notable scientific awards include: Student Paper Award, Device Research Conference (DRC), 2013 The Ben Streetman Prize for Outstanding Research in Electronic and Photonic Materials and Devices, 2013 Student Paper Award, Electronics Materials Conference (EMC), 2012 Hari Nair has advised several graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, though specific names are not listed in the provided text. His work has been supported by grants from federal agencies and institutional programs focused on advanced materials and quantum science. He is actively involved in collaborative research through centers and labs at Cornell, particularly those related to materials synthesis and characterization. He leads a research group focused on the growth and study of epitaxial thin films, working closely with the D.G. Schlom group and other collaborators in the Kavli Institute at Cornell. His lab utilizes state-of-the-art MBE systems and advanced characterization tools for probing electronic, magnetic, and structural properties at the nanoscale.
Scott Thompson is a Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Florida. He holds academic appointments within the College of Engineering and specializes in solid-state electronics, nanotechnology, and semiconductor device fabrication. His research focuses on advancing transistor technologies to extend Moore’s Law, including strained silicon innovations and low-power device designs. Thompson earned his BSEE (1987), MS (1988), and PhD (1992) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida. His industrial contributions include roles at Intel Corporation and leadership at SuVolta, recognized with the TiE 50 Top Startup Award (2014) and Semi Award North America (2008). He is an IEEE Fellow (2006) and Intel Fellow (2003). His research portfolio includes over 50 patents and publications on topics like deeply depleted channel transistors, CMOS process optimization, and strain-engineered semiconductor materials. Key themes in his work involve improving transistor performance, reducing power consumption, and advancing fabrication techniques for nanoscale electronics. Key Awards: IEEE Fellow, Intel Fellow, TiE 50 Startup Award Key Contributions: Strained silicon transistors, SuVolta startup innovations, CMOS process advancements
Matthias Bucher is a Professor at the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Technical University of Crete. He specializes in analog/RF integrated circuits design, MOSFET compact modeling, and device characterization. His research focuses on nanoscale CMOS, wide-band semiconductor devices, and high-voltage MOSFETs. He leads the Electronics Laboratory and teaches courses such as Electronics II and CMOS Analog IC Design. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), 1999 M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 1993 Research Interests: Prof. Bucher’s work emphasizes charge-based compact models (e.g., EKV3), RF device modeling, and noise analysis in MOSFETs/JFETs. His contributions include open-source tools for Verilog-A modeling and parameter extraction methodologies for advanced CMOS technologies. Labs/Teams: He directs the Electronics Laboratory , focusing on nanoelectronics and high-reliability circuits. His team collaborates on semiconductor device modeling for aerospace and industrial applications. Grants/Awards: While not explicitly listed, his extensive publication record and leadership in open-source projects indicate sustained recognition in semiconductor research communities.
Tathagata Srimani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), affiliated with the College of Engineering. He previously served as a Postdoctoral Scholar in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. and S.M. in EECS from MIT (2022 and 2018 respectively) and a B.Tech. in E&ECE from IIT Kharagpur (2016). Research Focus: Srimani’s work centers on nanoelectronics and transformative NanoSystems. Key areas include: Carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNFETs) and their monolithic 3D integration with silicon Ultra-dense 3D integration of logic and memory to address the 'memory wall' in AI/ML Technology-architecture co-design frameworks for energy-efficient computing Key Achievements: Developed first silicon fab-compatible CNFET processes (TNANO ’18, Nature ’19) Enabled CNFET RISC-V microprocessor and monolithic 3D integration with Analog Devices/SkyWater Recipient of MIT Presidential Fellowship (2016) and Morris Joseph Levin Award (2018) Teaching & Outreach: Teaches semiconductor devices and hardware design, including hands-on 'Hacker Fab' courses. Leads the NEXUS Research Group exploring heterogeneous nanomaterials (e.g., magnetic and oxide semiconductors) and thermal/power management in 3D systems. Future Directions: Expanding into probabilistic computing hardware, co-design frameworks for application-specific systems, and scaling 3D NanoSystem technologies for industrial adoption.
Jeff Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at Arizona State University. He joined ASU in January 2023 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University. His research spans deep learning, computer architecture, embedded systems, and EDA, with particular emphasis on energy-efficient and fault-tolerant design for AI/ML systems and hardware accelerators. Education: Ph.D., New York University M.Eng., B.Eng., Hunan University Dr. Zhang's research bridges theoretical machine learning with practical hardware implementation, developing novel architectures that optimize performance, power consumption, and reliability. He has pioneered approaches for hardware acceleration of large language models, efficient sparse matrix operations, and novel memory technologies for AI workloads. His work has received multiple awards including IEEE Top Picks in Test and Reliability (2023) and IEEE Micro Best Paper Award (2022). His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward heterogeneous computing, with significant work in chiplet-based AI accelerators, photonic computing for AI, and 2.5D/3D integration techniques. The research spans from high-level compiler frameworks to circuit-level innovations, with a consistent theme of co-designing algorithms and hardware for optimal AI performance. His work on the SODA toolchain has been particularly influential in bridging Python to silicon. Scientific Awards: IEEE Top Picks in Test and Reliability, IEEE ITC, 2023 Best Paper Award, IEEE Micro, 2022 Best Paper Award Candidate, IEEE DATE, 2022 Best Presentation Award Nomination, ACM SIGDA DATE PhD Forum, 2020 Best Paper Award Nomination, IEEE VLSI Test Symposium, 2018 Ernst Weber Ph.D. Fellowship, New York University, 2015, 2016 Dr. Zhang actively mentors a diverse group of graduate and undergraduate students, with several alumni now working at leading technology companies including Apple, TSMC, and Ansys. His research is supported by prestigious grants from NSF, Sandia National Labs, and industry partners. He serves on technical program committees of numerous top conferences and has organized special sessions on emerging topics like Gen AI for Chip Design and LLM-Aided Design. Dr. Zhang leads a vibrant research group that collaborates extensively with industry partners and national laboratories. Current projects focus on next-generation AI hardware, including chiplet-based systems, photonic accelerators, and novel memory technologies for large language models. His group has developed several open-source tools and frameworks, including the SODA toolchain for bridging Python to silicon.
Xiaodong Yan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and an affiliated faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Arizona . His research bridges materials science, nanoelectronics, and quantum computing, with a focus on developing novel quantum materials and devices for next-generation computing systems. Education : BS in Physics (Peking University, China), MS in Electrical Engineering (University of Notre Dame), PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering (University of Southern California). Postdoctoral Training : Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University (2021-2023). Dr. Yan’s research explores the synthesis and physics of emerging quantum materials, particularly 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures , to create advanced devices for neuromorphic computing , quantum sensing , and low-power electronics . His work spans nanofabrication, device characterization, and algorithm integration. His recent publications in Nature and Nature Electronics highlight breakthroughs in Moiré synaptic transistors with room-temperature neuromorphic functionality and reconfigurable heterojunction transistors for machine learning hardware. These studies emphasize 2D material integration , reconfigurable electronics , and bio-mimicking systems . Scientific Awards : MHI Ph.D. Scholar, Ming Hsieh Department of ECE at USC. Dr. Yan leads the Yan Research Group , which focuses on material and device solutions for neuromorphic computing and quantum sensing . The group actively recruits graduate and undergraduate researchers.
Yiorgos Makris is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, since July 2011. Previously, he was a faculty member at Yale University for over a decade. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, and a Diploma in Computer Engineering from the University of Patras, Greece. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego (2001) M.S. in Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego (1997) Diploma in Computer Engineering and Informatics, University of Patras, Greece (1995) Research Interests: Hardware Security and Trustworthiness Statistical Side-Channel Fingerprinting Machine Learning in Semiconductor Manufacturing Trusted and Reliable Integrated Circuits Hardware Trojans in Wireless Cryptographic ICs On-Die Learning and Emergent Technologies His work focuses on enhancing hardware security through statistical methods, machine learning, and formal verification, with applications in analog/RF ICs, post-production calibration, and secure IC design. Key Contributions: Co-Founder and Site-PI of NSF CHEST I/UCRC (Hardware and Embedded System Security and Trust) Leader of the Safety, Security, and Healthcare Thrust at TxACE (Texas Analog Center of Excellence) Director of the Trusted and RELiable Architectures (TRELA) Lab Grants and Funding: NSF, NIH, SRC, ARO, AFRL, AFWERX, DARPA, DOE, and industry partnerships with Boeing, Northrop Grumman, IBM, Intel, Qualcomm, etc. Recent grants include projects on DNA storage security, analog neural networks, and malicious hardware detection. Awards and Recognition: IEEE Fellow (2025) Best Paper Awards at DATE'13, VTS'15, DCAS'22 Best Hardware Demonstration Awards at HOST'16 and HOST'18 Erik Jonsson School Faculty Research Award (2020) Labs and Teams: TRELA Lab (Focus: Secure Hardware Design, Trusted Architectures) CHEST I/UCRC (Industry-University Collaboration)
