Welcome to July’s edition of the
APRIL AI Hub Newsletter!
In Pillar 5, we are transforming semiconductor development through intelligent digital twins and predictive modelling. Our interdisciplinary approach combines automated testing routines with AI-driven TCAD simulations to accelerate the maturation of CMOS and beyond-CMOS devices.
|
|
By creating sophisticated models that bridge device innovation with practical circuit design, we enable engineers to access validated technologies faster than traditional methods allow. This work spans from automated process development to efficient system-level optimisation, fundamentally changing how new semiconductor technologies reach market readiness.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACE IT x APRIL AI Hub Outreach
|
|
APRIL partnered up with local Edinburgh charity, ACE IT Scotland, to deliver a series of intergenerational AI learning experiences in line with ACE IT’s mission to promote digital inclusion for older adults at the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI).
|
|
|
|
ACE IT participants and APRIL discussing all things AI
|
|
With support from our research team and interns, the day kicked off with fun icebreakers and AI-themed activities. This was followed by intergenerational mentoring sessions, where older participants partnered up with interns and researchers to explore language models and image generation technologies, discovering how AI can enhance everyday life.
|
|
|
|
Intergenerational mentorship session to find ways that AI can improve our lives
|
|
These workshops were designed not only to be an educational opportunity for older adults to gain confidence in using AI, but also as a way for our researchers and interns to gain useful insights into a new generation of AI users as they continue their research in this field. Participants developed a greater understanding of AI, increased digital confidence, and new intergenerational connections.
|
|
|
|
The APRIL AI Hub team outside of EFI
|
|
Well done to our fantastic team of interns, researchers and operations staff who made these workshops incredibly meaningful!
Catch us on STV at 6PM on 16th July 2025!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pillar One Leads Prof Jacqueline Cole and Prof Subramanian Ramamoorthy
|
|
APRIL was delighted to host not one, not two but three world-leading expert talks on Materials and AI for Electronics. Speakers included Prof. Subramanian Ramamoorthy of the School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Prof. Jacqueline Cole of the University of Cambridge, and Prof. Phil King of the University of St. Andrews, for a trio of world-leading expert talks on Materials and AI for Electronics. This visit also included an exciting full day workshop at the Bayes Centre.
|
|
|
|
Material Discovery Leads, researchers and interns at the Bayes Centre for a Pillar One workshop
|
|
|
|
|
Summer Showcase and Celebration!
|
|
On the 25th of July we will be showcasing our Google DeepMind Research Ready interns' projects at our APRIL AI Hub Summer Showcase and Celebration! We will also be hearing from our interns from Sabanci University!
Book your tickets here!
See below for more information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alongside our Google DeepMind interns, we have also welcomed two fantastic interns from Sabanci University in Turkey.
|
|
|
|
Bartu Orhun
Sabanci University
MSc Electronics Engineering
|
|
|
|
|
Arda Özgün
Sabanci University
MSc Electrical and Electronics Engineering
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research Interests:
I am interested in Processing-in-Memory (PiM) architectures, neuromorphic computing, and VLSI design, focusing on digital and mixed-signal integrated circuits that leverage emerging memory technologies for energy-efficient,high-performance computing.
Experience:
Part-time engineer in embedded systems, with internships in IoT and electronic systems engineering; prior experience in full-custom IC design and privacy-preserving filters using adversarial machine learning.
|
|
|
Research Interests:
I am interested in neuromorphic computing,Processing-in-Memory (PiM), VLSI design, and computer architecture. Passionate about designing novel circuits and systems that improve computational efficiency, speed, and scalability. Exploring hardware-software co-design for AI acceleration and low-power embedded systems.
Experience:
Collaborated with InterLabs on adversarial filters for privacy-preserving face recognition.
Conducted NLP research at KocLab under Asst. Prof. Dr. Aykut Koc.
Built a microcontroller-based irrigation system using real-time sensor data.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The APRIL and EPSRC Team outside of Murchison House
|
|
Last month the APRIL AI Hub received a visit from the EPSRC AI, Data and Robotics team at the University of Edinburgh to meet senior academic staff across different investments and explore the opportunities for AI and Robotics in Scotland. It was a fantastic day filled with lots of insightful discussions on opportunities for enabling synergies across all UK investments in AI. Exciting collaborations are on the horizon as we continue to push the boundaries of technology.
|
|
|
|
|
Congratulations to our Graduates!
|
|
We’d like to extend a massive congratulations to our colleagues in APRIL for their graduations this month!
|
|
|
|
Dr. Shashank Mishra graduated from his PhD from the University of Glasgow under the supervision of Pillar Five Lead, Prof. Vihar Georgiev.
|
|
|
|
Max Tamborksi - University of Edinburgh, MInf Informatics.
|
|
|
|
|
Shu Gu - University of Edinburgh, MEng Electronics and Computer Science.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jamie Clements - University of Stirling, BSc Computer Science.
|
|
|
|
|
Jingyi Li - University of Manchester, BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Visit from Prof. Andrew Flewitt
|
|
|
|
Prof. Andrew Flewitt presenting to CEF
|
|
|
|
This month Prof. Andrew Flewitt of University of Cambridge visited us in Edinburgh and gave a fascinating talk on The Challenge of Realising Low Power Logic from Thin Film Semiconductions: from Circuit and Material Optimisation to the Physics of Disordered Semiconductors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
APRIL Researcher Ben Rowlinson commented: "Prof. Flewitt's insights into emergent properties of long-range and localised energy states with a-Si:H as an example platform was inspiring and the close agreement of his group's model to the measured density of states and emergent band tails shows disruptive applicability to a broad range of non-crystalline material systems for electronics. I cannot wait to see where the interaction with the APRIL AI Hub takes this work next!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
This month has seen many Fun Friday activities for our interns including trips to the University of Edinburgh’s facilities. Firstly, we visited FloWave, the world’s first large circular wave and current simulation tank offering the best simulation of real-world coastal waters available. It was a great example of engineering in action for our interns to see! Then we were lucky enough to visit the Royal Observatory which sits right next to our office on Kings Building Campus.
|
|
|
|
Fun Friday group photos outside of FloWave and the Royal Observatory
|
|
