Tag Archives: computing

ISCAS tutorial on Material and Physical Reservoir Computing for Beyond-CMOS Electronics

Christof Teuscher will be teaching a tutorial on “Material and Physical Reservoir Computing for Beyond-CMOS Electronics” at the IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS).

ISCAS is the flagship conference of the IEEE Circuits and Systems (CAS) Society and the world’s premiere forum for researchers in the active fields of theory, design and implementation of circuits and systems.

Tutorial abstract:

Traditional computing is based on an engineering approach that imposes logical states and a computational model upon a physical substrate. Physical or material computing, on the other hand, harnesses and exploits the inherent, naturally-occurring properties of a physical substrate to perform a computation. To do so, reservoir computing is often used as a computing paradigm. In this tutorial, you will learn what reservoir computing is and how to use it for computing with emerging devices and fabrics. You will also learn about the current state-of-the-art and what opportunities and challenges for future research exist. The tutorial is relevant for anybody interested in beyond-CMOS and beyond-von-Neumann architectures, ML, AI, neuromorphic systems, and computing with novel devices and circuits.

More info about ISCAS tutorials at https://iscas2023.org/tutorials

 

 

Nesara wins National Aspirations in Computing Award

tlab intern Nesara Shree won a National Aspirations in Computing Award from the National Center for Women in Computing (NCWIT).

Each year, U.S. high school students in grades 9 through 12 who are women, genderqueer, or non-binary are eligible to receive recognition for their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education. This year, 40 winners and 360 honorable mentions were selected from more than 3,300 amazing, talented young applicants.

NEW PAPER: Multi-tasking Memcapacitive Networks

D. Tran and C. Teuscher, Multi-tasking Memcapacitive Networks, in IEEE Journal on Emerging and Selected Topics in Circuits and Systems, 2023. doi: 10.1109/JETCAS.2023.3235242.

Abstract:

Recent studies have shown that networks of memcapacitive devices provide an ideal computing platform of low power consumption for reservoir computing systems. Random, crossbar, or small-world power-law (SWPL) structures are common topologies for reservoir substrates to compute single tasks. However, neurological studies have shown that the interconnections of cortical brain regions associated with different functions form a rich-club structure. This structure allows human brains to perform multiple activities simultaneously. So far, memcapacitive reservoirs can perform only single tasks. Here, we propose, for the first time, cluster networks functioning as memcapacitive reservoirs to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Our results illustrate that cluster networks surpassed crossbar and SWPL networks by factors of 4.1×, 5.2×, and 1.7× on three tasks: Isolated Spoken Digits, MNIST, and CIFAR-10. Compared to single-task networks in our previous and published results, multitasking cluster networks could accomplish similar accuracies of 86%, 94.4%, and 27.9% for MNIST, Isolated Spoken Digits, and CIFAR-10. Our extended simulations reveal that both the input signal amplitudes and the inter-cluster connections contribute to the accuracy of cluster networks. Selecting optimal values for signal amplitudes and inter-cluster links is key to obtaining high classification accuracy and low power consumption. Our results illustrate the promise of memcapacitive brain-inspired cluster networks and their capability to solve multiple tasks simultaneously. Such novel computing architectures have the potential to make edge applications more efficient and allow systems that cannot be reconfigured to solve multiple tasks.

IMMEDIATE OPENING: GRA Position in Molecular Computing

The research group of Prof. Christof Teuscher has an immediate opening for a paid PhD or MS student in the area of molecular computing and novel computing paradigms.

Molecular computing is a promising computational paradigm, in which computational functions are evaluated at the nanoscale, with potential applications in smart molecular diagnostics and therapeutics. However, despite recent advances in the field, prospects for direct application of these techniques to solve real-world problems are limited by the lack of robust interfaces between molecular computers and biological and chemical systems. This project will address these limitations by targeting two application domains, wide-spectrum chemical sensing and cell surface analysis using molecular logic cascades. Drawing on a combination of experimental, theoretical, and computational tools, molecular computing systems will be developed for use in these application domains. Molecular circuit architectures that process sensor inputs from chemical sensors and cell-surface analysis reactions will be designed, modeled, and implemented in the laboratory, and computational modeling will be used to predict and optimize interactions between DNA circuit components and their binding targets. Furthermore, advanced molecular circuit architectures capable of adaptive, bio-inspired behavior, such as dynamic learning and adaptation, will be designed, with a view to future experimental implementations of these features.

The position is funded by the National Science Foundation. The project is a collaboration with teams from the University of New Mexico and Columbia University.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • The ideal candidate has experience in DNA and molecular computation, unconventional computation, computational intelligence, machine learning, neural networks, reservoir computing, and optimization techniques.
  • Must be enrolled in the ECE or CS MS or PhD program at PSU for the fall ’21, winter ’22, and spring ’22.
  • Excellent Python programming skills.
  • Interested in far-reaching cutting-edge interdisciplinary research.
  • Outstanding academic records.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
  • Highly motivated, responsible, independent, with outstanding work ethics.
  • Visionary, creative, outside-the-box thinker.

WHAT YOU GET

A place to invent, design, create, investigate, support and advice, an unconventional lab environment, free coffee, a GRA stipend, tuition, a foosball table, access to a powerful research compute server, a unique team, opportunities to collaborate with researchers from other fields.

WHAT WE DO

The mission of teuscher.:Lab is review the foundations of computer technology to help solve tomorrow’s technological and societal problems. We use a radical interdisciplinary approach and apply tools from computer science, computer engineering, physics, biology, complex systems science, and cognitive science to the study and the design of next generation computing models and architectures. Our research and education have global impact. We educate lifelong learners through academic excellence.

APPLICATION

Send application materials to teuscher@pdx.edu. Review will begin immediately. The position remains open until filled. Portland State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.