My current research is driven by two major quests: First, finding methods to combat increasing heterogeneity (mismatch) and stochasticity (noise) as transistors scale down to a few nanometers. And second, exploiting these methods to develop novel computing paradigms that scale beyond the limits of the current paradigm (purely digital hardware and strictly deterministic programs). In particular, my group is designing neuromorphic computing systems that combine analog computation with digital communication, inspired by how the brain harnesses its nanoscale ion-channels’ heterogeneous expression and stochastic behavior.

Awards and Achievements

  • CAREER Award, National Science Foundation ( 2001)
  • Young Investigator Award, Office of Naval Research ( 2002)
  • Director’s Pioneer Award, National Institutes of Health ( 2006)
  • Director’s Transformative Research Award, National Institutes of Health ( 2011)
  • Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) ( 2016)
  • Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) ( 2016)