Clemson ACE² Lab: Two PhD Positions in IC Design Automation and ML Hardware
Clemson University
Associate Professor Umamaheswara Rao Tida is recruiting two PhD students for Clemson University’s ACE² Lab for Spring or Fall 2027. Topics include IC design automation, hardware for machine learning, monolithic 3D IC EDA, power-delivery networks and ASIC accelerators for LLM inference.
Associate Professor Umamaheswara Rao Tida is recruiting two Ph.D. students to join the ACE² Lab at Clemson University in Spring 2027 or Fall 2027.
ACE² stands for AI, Circuits and EDA / Automated Circuit Engineering. The lab develops process-aware electronic-design-automation frameworks for monolithic 3D integrated circuits, machine-learning methods for ASIC design automation and custom compute-in-memory accelerators for efficient large-language-model inference.
Potential projects include placement and routing for monolithic 3D ICs, monolithic inter-tier via utilisation, thermal modelling, graph-neural-network and reinforcement-learning methods for physical design, LLM-assisted RTL generation, power-delivery networks and ASIC architectures for transformer inference.
Degree route: successful candidates will apply to Clemson's Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering through the Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Funding clarification: the recruitment announcement does not state that these two positions are fully funded or give a stipend, tuition, insurance or duration package. Clemson states that every admitted ECE graduate student is evaluated for available support and that priority is given to Ph.D. applicants, but an assistantship is not guaranteed. Obtain written funding terms before enrolling.
Benefits
- Two doctoral research openings with Spring 2027 or Fall 2027 entry.
- Research in IC design automation, ML hardware, monolithic 3D integration and ASIC acceleration for LLMs.
- Access to Clemson's Electrical and Computer Engineering doctoral environment and the ACE² Lab's funded research programme.
- Possible research, teaching or fellowship support subject to a separate written award.
Eligibility summary
- Prospective Ph.D. applicants for Spring 2027 or Fall 2027.
- Background in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science or a closely related field.
- Research interest in IC design automation, hardware for machine learning, monolithic 3D IC EDA, ASIC design, compute-in-memory or power-delivery networks.
- The lab's preliminary-review page requests a GRE Quantitative score above 165. Clemson ECE separately states that GRE scores are optional for the formal department application and that it has no departmental GRE minimum.
- Applicants must also satisfy Clemson Graduate School and ECE doctoral admission requirements, including English-language requirements where applicable.
Requirements
- Email the requested preliminary-review package to Professor Tida.
- State the preferred research area: IC design automation, hardware for machine learning, 3D IC EDA or power-delivery networks.
- If invited to proceed, complete Clemson's formal Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering Ph.D. application.
Documents required
- CV or résumé.
- Unofficial academic transcripts.
- Brief statement of research interest.
- Preferred research area.
- GRE Quantitative score if supplied for the lab's preliminary review; Clemson ECE does not require it for the formal application.
- Formal admission documents and English-language evidence required by Clemson, if selected to proceed.
Language/test requirements
How to submit applications
Provider: ACE² Lab, Clemson University
Lab recruitment source: https://umamahesh-tida.github.io/ Programme: https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/ece/academics/grad/phd_degrees.html Admissions and funding FAQ: https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/ece/academics/grad/faq.html
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