The American University in Cairo, Egypt
I got my PhD in Electronics Engineering (Digital VLSI) from The American University in Cairo (Egypt). In alignment with my PhD research, I had 2 successful tape-outs (chips) and published 5 papers as a first author in highly ranked transactions and conferences like TCAS-I, TCAS-II and ISCAS.
Cornell University, USA
Then, I joined the Computer Systems Laboratory at Cornell University (US) for two years as a Postdoctoral Associate. I collaborated with researchers from top-ranked universities, such as Princeton University, University of Washington, and Cornell University, to develop large-scale computing architectures for data-intensive applications like AI. My contribution at Cornell University over two years led to 7 publications including prestigious conferences like ISCAS, HPCA and CICC.
University of Edinburgh, UK
Then, I joined the Centre for Electronics Frontiers (CEF) at The University of Edinburgh (UK) as a Research Fellow (previously at University of Southampton). Currently, I work on bridging the gap between emerging technologies and the ever-increasing performance demands of AI models, especially Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Large Language Models (LLMs).
Since I joined CEF, I am leading three research projects and had 15 publications (2025) (including 3 IEEE TCAS-I, 1 Frontiers Nanoelectronics, 5 IEEE ISCAS and 2 IEEE NEWCAS). I also had 5 patents and contributed significantly to 6 AI Chips. Moreover, I am a Researcher Co-PI of a successful grant “Prosensing” with a budget of 1.45 million GBP (UKRI EPSRC NSS). Meanwhile, I collaborated with researchers from Imperial College London (UK) on building a characterization chip with a million RRAM devices, and I lead a collaboration with Nottingham Trent University (UK) on developing in-sensors AI processing architectures. Furthermore, I advise 3 Postdoctoral Associates and two PhD students, and co-advised 4 MSc. students. I teach 2 courses on Digital Systems for undergraduate and MSc. students. I organise an annual 5-day workshop "ASIC-BASIC" at University of Edinburgh to provide fundamental knowledge of the digital ASIC design flow (from RTL to GDS). I also collaborated with AMD and ARM (UK) to build a new course on Digital ASIC design for AI.
Since I joined CEF, I am leading three research projects and had 15 publications (2025) (including 3 IEEE TCAS-I, 1 Frontiers Nanoelectronics, 5 IEEE ISCAS and 2 IEEE NEWCAS). I also had 5 patents and contributed significantly to 6 AI Chips. Moreover, I am a Researcher Co-PI of a successful grant “Prosensing” with a budget of 1.45 million GBP (UKRI EPSRC NSS). Meanwhile, I collaborated with researchers from Imperial College London (UK) on building a characterization chip with a million RRAM devices, and I lead a collaboration with Nottingham Trent University (UK) on developing in-sensors AI processing architectures. Furthermore, I advise 3 Postdoctoral Associates and two PhD students, and co-advised 4 MSc. students. I teach 2 courses on Digital Systems for undergraduate and MSc. students. I organise an annual 5-day workshop "ASIC-BASIC" at University of Edinburgh to provide fundamental knowledge of the digital ASIC design flow (from RTL to GDS). I also collaborated with AMD and ARM (UK) to build a new course on Digital ASIC design for AI.
Research Interests:
My research focuses on novel AI Computing Architectures with extensive exploration of: In-Memory Computing (IMC), Stochastic Computing (SC), Spatial Dataflows & Systolic Arrays, Non-Binary Computing Domains, Beyond Von Neumann Architectures, Emerging Technologies, Memories, and Energy-Efficient Digital Design. My research philosophy adopts two themes: 1) AI Computing Systems using Today’s technologies, including spatial dataflows, maximum data utilization, and hardware specialization, and 2) Unconventional AI Computing Systems using Tomorrow’s technologies like in-memory computing emerging devices and unconventional AI Computing Paradigms like bitstream computing.
Grants
2024, ProSensing: Low-Power, High-Speed, Adaptable Processing-In-Sensing Capability
UKRI EPSRC National Security Sandpit 2, Budget: £1,457,851.00, 3 Years.
Themis Prodromakis (PI) and Shady Agwa (Research Co-I), University of Edinburgh.
Eiman Kanjo (Co-I), Nottingham Trent University. Antonio Hurtado (Co-I), University of Strathclyde.
Themis Prodromakis (PI) and Shady Agwa (Research Co-I), University of Edinburgh.
Eiman Kanjo (Co-I), Nottingham Trent University. Antonio Hurtado (Co-I), University of Strathclyde.
Patents
2024, “A Computer Architecture for Matrix-Matrix Multiplication”
Inventors: Shady Agwa, Ahmed J. Abdelmaksoud and Themis Prodromakis.
UK IP Office App. No. 2416305.7.
UK IP Office App. No. 2416305.7.
2024, “TXL-ACAM Memory Cell Device”
Inventors: Georgios Papandroulidakis, Shady Agwa and Themis Prodromakis.
UK IP Office App. No. 2415750.5.
UK IP Office App. No. 2415750.5.
2024, “A Computer Architecture for a Convolutional Neural Network”
Inventors: Cristian Sestito, Shady Agwa and Themis Prodromakis.
UK IP Office App. No. 2409625.7.
UK IP Office App. No. 2409625.7.
2023, “A Memory Computing Device, a Method of Operating the Same and an AI System Including the Same”
Inventors: Shady Agwa and Themis Prodromakis.
PCT App. No. PCT/GB2024/05052.
PCT App. No. PCT/GB2024/05052.
2023, “A Memory Device”
Inventors: Alex Serb, Yihan Pan, Shady Agwa, Mohammed Mughal, Adrian Wheeldon, Sachin Maheshwar, and Themis Prodromakis.
PCT App. No. PCT/GB2023/05324.
PCT App. No. PCT/GB2023/05324.