Welcome to the April edition of APRIL AI Hub newsletter!
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In Pillar 2, we are pushing the boundaries of how AI can revolutionize electronic devices. By leveraging machine learning techniques, we are helping the design and optimization of nanoscale electronic devices. Our goal is to accelerate the design of next-generation electronic devices, making them more energy efficient, scalable, and multi-functional for emerging computing applications.
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Professor Bipin Rajendran
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We are excited to announce our second Seed Funding Competition!
Applications will open on Thursday 1st May 2025.
We are offering seed funding to support innovative, early-stage projects aimed at advancing AI in electronics. This opportunity is for projects that align with APRIL’s mission to accelerate research and collaboration between academia and industry in the electronics sector.
Please note, it is encouraged to secure matched funding, demonstrating a commitment to collaboration and investment in innovation. This will enhance the credibility and impact of your proposal.
Further guidance and information will be posted soon, keep your eyes on our social media, and newsletter.
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Meet our Google DeepMind Research Ready Interns!
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Google DeepMind is a pioneering new scheme supporting UK universities to offer research placements to undergraduate students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented groups. Through this programme, the APRIL AI Hub has recruited 12 interns to gain research experience in AI to give them the tools and opportunities to excel in the field of AI research.
Meet four of our fantastic interns:
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Zofia Wilk
University of Leeds
BSc Theoretical Physics
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Research Interests:
My interests include addressing the black-box nature of AI, enhancing predictions with limited data, and advancing foundational models by integrating physical inductive biases to improve performance and efficiency. I’m also interested in applying machine learning to physical and engineering sciences, with a focus on climate change, weather prediction and drug discovery.
Experience:
-Software Engineer Intern at J.P Morgan
-Research Intern at the Near-Machine Augmented Intelligence Laboratory at the KAIST
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Jamie Clements
University of Stirling
BSc Hons Computer Science
Research Interests:
My journey into the world of computer science has been non-traditional - beginning in Business Management before discovering my passion for AI and computational innovation. My current undergraduate dissertation represents my first substantial exploration of AI applications in a research context. The project focuses on multi-modal surgical video analysis using Google's Gemini Flash API, where I engineered an AI pipeline for real-time surgical instrument detection.
Experience:
-Technology Infrastructure Analyst at Citigroup
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Mohannad al-najjar
University of Glasgow
Aeronautical Engineering
Research Interests:
Aerospace engineering with a focus on AI-driven solutions, including UAV performance analysis, trajectory prediction, and autopilot training. Skilled in MATLAB, Simulink, and AeroSim, with experience in HIL/SIL simulations, sensor fusion,and AI optimization. Passionate about applying AI and control systems to advance aerospace research.
Experience:
-Aircraft Performance and Control Engineer
-Founder of Nevspace (Modular Space Propulsion Startup)
-Intern at Airbus UK
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Shu Gu
University of Edinburgh
Master of Engineering in Electronics
Research Interests:
Electronic system design,simulation workflows, and design automation. I’m also interested in incorporating human-centred AI to improve the usability and adaptability,enabling more efficient and reliable hardware–software co-design environments.
Experience:
-LLM Agent Developer for Qiji Program
Backend Developer and UI Designer
-Worked on EDA toolchains and circuit simulation workflows
-Built sensor fusion-based indoor positioning systems
-Experience in LLM integration and dialogue system design
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AI Adoption Perspectives in the Electronics Industry Survey
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Please complete our AI Adoption Perspectives in the Electronics Industry survey here.
Objective: To gather insights from employees within the electronics industry regarding their concerns, perceptions, and expectations surrounding AI adoption in the workplace.
Target Audience: Employees of various sectors and roles within the electronics industry in the UK.
Data Use: Responses will be analysed to identify common concerns, trends, and recommendations for responsible AI integration in electronics. No personally identifiable information will be collected or shared.
Your input is valuable in shaping a better understanding of AI adoption in the electronics industry.
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IEEE Nanotechnology Council Young Professionals Ambassador Inaugural Lecture
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Santhosh presenting for IEEE
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In collaboration with the IEEE UK and Ireland Nanotechnology (NANO) Chapter and the University of Bristol IEEE Student Branch, Dr. Santhosh Sivasubramani presented: Integrating AI with Nanotechnology for Next-Generation Computing. It was great to hear Santhosh discuss the convergence of AI and nanotechnology is expected to revolutionise the landscape of computing technology.
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Students in Northern Ireland enjoying APRIL and the Tower of Techport
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Pillar Four Lead, Maire O’Neill, celebrated NI Cyber week by visiting schools across Northern Ireland to share insights into her various research projects, including the APRIL AI Hub. Copies of APRIL and the Tower of Techport were distributed to students. It’s great to see our book making it’s way into primary schools across Northern Ireland!
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Santhosh presenting at Edinburgh Science Festival
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The main aim of FameLab is to encourage scientists to find their voices to inspire and excite the public imagination. The task was for Santhosh to communicate a scientific concept to an audience and a panel of judges in an accessible and engaging way. Santhosh used the magic from Harry Potter and the Marvel franchise as a way to bring his research to life. It was a brilliant event and Santhosh did APRIL very proud, well done!
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Join Our Next Lunch and Learn!
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The APRIL team was lucky enough to participate in the Engineering Science Fair which showcased the outreach activities of the 4th year undergraduate students at the University of Edinburgh.
APRIL’s Santhosh and Molly had the exciting role of judging these activities alongside 147 local primary school students. It was fantastic to see the creativity behind these brilliant projects and how engaged the students were.
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Industrial Cadets Gold Project Celebration
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Santhosh at the Industrial Cadets Gold Event
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Dr. Santhosh Sivasubramani served as a panel assessor for the EDT’s Industrial Cadets Gold Project, an initiative by the Engineering Development Trust designed to engage S5/6 school pupils in practical STEM education. The project offers pupils a unique opportunity to work in teams to apply their knowledge to solve real-world problems presented by their mentoring companies. Over a period of four months, each team develops a solution that they present to a panel.
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Santhosh commented: ‘I am inspired by the potential and innovation displayed by the students. It was enlightening to see how theoretical knowledge was applied in practical, real-world scenarios and how young learners navigated complex problems with creativity and insight.’
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APRIL participated in an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) workshop led by the University of Edinburgh’s EDI manager, Jenni Sarafilovic. The workshop focused on reducing bias, encouraging conscious inclusion, and inclusive language. Attendees discussed various topics in groups, sharing experiences and goals for EDI growth. This workshop marked an excellent beginning to our APRIL Ethos Workshop Series, which will also cover responsible research, trusted research and sustainability. It was great to see APRIL’s ethos in action, with active participation and engaging discussions from members from other EPSRC AI Hubs.
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Shashank is the newest addition to the APRIL AI Hub as a Research Associate in Pillar 1. Shashank recently earned his PhD in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Glasgow, where he was also a Marie Curie Early-Stage Researcher on the EU-funded INTUITIVE project. His doctoral work centered on replicating human tactile sensation using flexible sensors. He holds a dual degree (B.Tech. & M.Tech.) in Metallurgical Engineering from IIT(BHU) - Varanasi, completed in 2016. Following his graduation, Shashank spent eight years at TCS Research as a Scientist, where he led projects in computational materials science and secured multiple intellectual property contributions for the company. He brings deep expertise in both atomistic and continuum-level materials modeling, with research interests that include flexible sensors, computational materials science, and atomistic simulations. Outside of work, Shashank enjoys hiking, exploring Scotland and nearby places, playing cricket or table tennis and cooking.
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