Research Staff

Shady Agwa is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Electronics Frontiers CEF, The University of Edinburgh (UK). He received his BSc and MSc degree from Assiut University (Egypt), both in Electrical Engineering. He got his PhD in Electronics Engineering from The American University in Cairo (Egypt) in 2018. Following his PhD, he joined the Computer Systems Laboratory at Cornell University (USA) as a Postdoctoral Associate for two years. In 2021, Shady joined the Centre for Electronics Frontiers at the University of Southampton (UK) as a Senior Research Fellow and then as a Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh (UK). His research interests span across VLSI and Computer Architecture for AI using conventional and emerging technologies. His work focuses on AI-Specific Integrated Circuits \& Systems (AISICS) with extensive expertise in In-Memory Computing, Stochastic/Bitstream Computing, Systolic Arrays, Beyond Von Neumann Architectures, Memories, and Energy-Efficient Digital ASIC Design.

• PhD in Electronics Engineering, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
• MSc in Computer Engineering, Assiut University, Egypt.
• BSc in Computer & Systems Engineering, Assiut University, Egypt.

IEEE Member.

• 2024 - 2025, Digital System Design Course (3rd).
• 2023 - 2025, Digital Systems Lab Courses (4th & MSc).

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 ASIC 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.

Digital VLSI, Domain-Specific Computer Architecture, AI/ML, Hardware Acceleration, Digital ASIC Design, Dataflow Architectures & Systolic Arrays, In-Memory Computing, Stochastic Computing, Memory Design, Analogue Content-Addressable Memories, Convolutional Neural Networks CNNs, Large Language Models LLMs.

In 2021, I joined the Centre for Electronics Frontiers (CEF) at the University of Edinburgh (UK) as a Research Fellow (previously at the University of Southampton). 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 have been leading three research projects and have had 17 publications (Aug. 2025) (including 4 IEEE TCAS-I, 1 IEEE-TCASAI, 1 IEEE OJCAS, 1 Frontiers Nanoelectronics, 5 IEEE ISCAS, and 2 IEEE NEWCAS). I also filed 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).

Cristian Sestito is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Electronics Frontiers, University of Edinburgh, UK. Specifically, Cristian is part of the AI Hub for Productive Research and Innovation in eLectronics (APRIL). He earned his BSc (2016) and MSc (2019) in Electronic Engineering, followed by a PhD in Information and Communication Technologies (2023), from the University of Calabria, Italy. His PhD focused on the design and FPGA implementation of convolutional neural networks, with particular emphasis on dilated and transposed convolutions. During 2021–2022, he was a Visiting Scholar at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK where he worked on neural network compression techniques. His current research interests include digital AI accelerator design, software simulators for neuromorphic AI, and AI-assisted electronic design automation frameworks.

• PhD in Information and Communication Technologies, University of Calabria, Italy.
• MSc In Electronic Engineering, University of Calabria, Italy.
• BSc in Electronic Engineering, University of Calabria, Italy.

• IEEE Member.

• Hardware acceleration of Convolutional Neural Networks.
• Hardware acceleration of systolic arrays.
• AI-assisted electronic design automation.
• Software modelling of neuromorphic AI accelerators.

• FPGA design.
• Hardware/software co-design methodologies.
• Digital ASIC design.
• LLM-assisted electronic design automation frameworks.

• During his time in the APRIL AI Hub, Cristian is leading R&D activities within Pillar 3: Circuits and Systems Design Automation. His current focus is LaMDA (Language Model-Assisted Electronic Design Automation Framework).

Spyros has a background in semiconductor physics and currently works on the realisation, fabrication and characterisation ofnovel devices based on semiconductors and thin films. His main research interest is around heterogeneous integration of thin filmsand semiconductors to enable applications in novel memories and beyond-CMOS electronics. He is also responsible for developingnew fabrication and testing processes that cut across the different CEF areas of research.

• MSc Applied Physics - Nat. University of Athens - 2009
• PhD Applied Physics - Nat. University of Athens - 2015