As we step into January 2026, it’s a natural moment to reflect and we can confidently say we had an absolute blast in 2025. From inspiring events and new collaborations to exciting research and growing engagement across our community, the year ended on a real high and set the tone for what’s ahead. That momentum has carried straight into the new year as you will see from our exciting updates below.
Thank you for being part of the APRIL AI Hub community. We’re excited for what’s to come and look forward to building it together.
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At our Second Annual Summit, we were proud to officially introduce APRIL+.
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APRIL+ aims to use AI tools that lower the knowledge-barrier to help design integrated circuits and emerging technologies, and offer end-to-end support throughout a “community-driven prototyping run”. More specifically, they will coordinate an AI-driven full-scale chip tape-out for AI hardware, open to all Hub partners across academia.
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It was a great opportunity to announce this to our network whilst also connecting with many new designers. We have many exciting developments ahead and invite you to be part of what’s next by getting involved through the link below or by scanning the QR code or pressing this link to register your interest.
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Google DeepMind Research Ready Internship Scheme 2026
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The APRIL AI Hub is delivering a transformative eight-week internship programme supported by Google DeepMind, The Hg Foundation, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, will enable the delivery of funded research placements for undergraduate students from socio-economically disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds. The aim is to support access, confidence, and progression into research careers in AI and engineering. The programme will be hosted in-person at the University of Edinburgh commencing 1st June 2026.
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Applicants must:
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Be an undergraduate student (penultimate year, final year, or recently graduated)
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Be studying a degree with a strong focus on AI, machine learning, data science, or a closely related field
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Be interested in pursuing research and/or a career in AI or engineering
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Be eligible to work in the UK for the duration of the placement
The programme is specifically aimed at students from socio-economically disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds, including (but not limited to):
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First-generation university students
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Students from low-income households or areas of low participation in higher education
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Students who were eligible for free school meals
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Care-experienced students
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Students with caring responsibilities
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Students from underrepresented ethnic groups
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Disabled and/or neurodivergent students
Applications are now open until 17th March 2026! Interviews will be held on w/c 30th March. For more information on eligibility and details on how to apply click here.
For any questions, please contact APRIL@ed.ac.uk.
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NeuMat Winter School 2026
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We were thrilled to have some of our researchers and PhD students attend the NeuMat Winter School 2026! The three-day residential event brought together 100 researchers (PhD, postdoc, other ECR, industry, policymakers) from across the NeuMat network for an engaging programme of lectures, workshops and practical sessions focused on AI hardware.
"The NeuMat Winter School was an amazing opportunity to learn about cutting-edge advances in neuromorphic computing, and discussions with researchers from different universities during the workshops were a great source of new ideas." - Eleni Tselepi
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NeuMat Winter School Attendees 2026
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Seven of our wonderful researchers were invited to the William Blair Investment Management offices in London to participate in their ‘Imagine Day’. The event brought together early-career researchers and investment-management professionals to deepen the dialogue about the future of digital technology, AI and innovation.
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The APRIL team at William Blair’s offices in London
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Our PhD students presented projects spanning from generative AI for electronics to advances in new materials and intelligent low-power devices and discussed how these technologies can translate into practical products and commercial opportunities. Watch a short video recap of the day here!
Thank you so much to everyone at William Blair for this wonderful opportunity!
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Yijia Hao recently completed her PhD at the University of Glasgow, where she researched the application of AI to analog integrated circuit design. Prior to that, she received BSc in Electronic Engineering from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC). Her research interests centre on analog and mixed-signal circuit design and leveraging AI techniques for design automation. In her free time, she enjoy travelling and watching TV series.
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Ahmet Cirakoglu has recently completed his PhD at the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems. His research focused on exploiting the inherent radiation hardness and in-memory computing capabilities of resistive random-access memories (RRAMs) to develop energy-efficient AI hardware accelerators for space applications. Prior to his doctoral studies, Ahmet worked as an RFIC design engineer at Phasor Solutions (now Hanwha Phasor) from 2017 to 2020. He holds an M.Eng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Imperial College London and an MSc in Machine Intelligence for Nano-electronic Devices and Systems from the University of Southampton. His research interests span mixed-signal AI hardware accelerators, radiation-hardened circuit design, RRAM device characterization and modelling, in-memory computing, and analogue circuit design. Outside of research, Ahmet enjoys weightlifting, video games, and watching TV shows.
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This month we say goodbye to one of our wonderful researchers, Dr Joydeep Ghosh. The APRIL team wishes him all the best for the future!
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“My time with the APRIL AI Hub has been rewarding and enriching. I have had the opportunity to work in a supportive and professional environment that encouraged learning, growth, and collaboration. The responsibilities entrusted to me helped strengthen my skills, broaden my perspective, and build confidence in my professional abilities. Working alongside such dedicated and talented individuals has been a truly valuable experience, and the knowledge I have gained here will remain an important part of my career journey.”
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