All-optical Artificial Neural Networks


Scientia PhD Scholarship for a 2020 Start at UNSW Canberra, Australia

The Most Prestiguous PhD Scholarship offered by University of New South Wales - Australia
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Scientia Scholarship

The word Scientia means "knowledge based on demonstrable and reproducible data" (Merriam-Webster dictionary). The term sits at the heart of this particular PhD project.
UNSW Australia has launched a global drive to recruit 700 exceptional PhD students over the next 10 years. 
This prestigious PhD scholarship is fully funded and offers a significant stipend to the successful applicant. The UNSW Scientia PhD Scholarships were established to attract the best research students to UNSW to work on cutting-edge game-changer topics.
This prestigious scholarship offers $41,209 stipend per annum for four years. In addition, a travel and development support package up to $10,000 per annum. For International Students, the scholarship will also include tuition scholarship which waves the fees.
Detailed guidelines for the Scholarship can be found at https://www.scientia.unsw.edu.au/scientia-phd-scholarships
The university deadline for 2020 applications is 12th of July 2019. Make sure you contact the supervisors well before this deadline. The actual application process requires a detailed research plan and more information that needs coordination with the supervisors in advance.

Project Description

In modern society, the ability to process a vast amount of data is increasingly crucial. One of the most significant challenges is the real-time processing of data as required for real-time control of autonomous systems. Existing computer architecture is failing to provide fast-enough analysis due to slow communication between the memory and processor units. One of the solutions to this problem is based on the photonic analogue of brain-inspired processors. This project is focused on an emerging field at the nexus of photonics and neural engineering, which combines the advantages of optics and electronics to build systems with high efficiency, interconnectivity and information density by creating photonic components mimicking the brain’s neurons functionality.


The project is based on smart use of light in science and technology, which is at the heart of a number of high-performance optical devices, ranging from laser chips and optical sensors to all­optical communication systems for high­speed computing and data processing. Beyond traditional photonics application areas, photonic neural networks have the potential to revolutionise the speed, bandwidth efficiency, cascadability, and throughput of modern computing by offering a novel platform for the next generation of signal-processing and computing systems.

This will lead to the design and development of practical photonic devices for smart autonomous systems and swarm robotics.

Candidate

This project involves both theoretical and experimental studies. Theoretical part is focused on the development of optical neural networks by using integrated photonic components such as light sources, photodetectors, and modulators. Later, they can be fabricated either by using the Australian National Fabrication Facility (Canberra) or via fabless manufacturing.

We are looking for a self-motivated candidate with a strong background in photonics and possibly machine learning, preferably at the Master level. The knowledge of Matlab is essential, while knowledge in various commercial packages such as Synopsys and/or Lumerical FDTD and Interconnect is highly desirable.

You should have:
  • First Class Honours or equivalent in cognitive science, computer science, mathematics or electrical engineering;
  • Strong mathematical and programming skills;
  • Interest and/or experience in analysing Human Brain Data;
  • An unbounded aptitude to innovate; and
  • Ability to work in a team and strive for research excellence.

Supervisory Panel

  1. A/Prof Andrey Miroshnichenko is an internationally recognised researcher in the interdisciplinary field of nanophotonics, who currently holds UNSW Scientia Fellowship. He has a number of high-profile publications, including Science, Physical Review Letters, Reviews of Modern Physics, and Nature Communications. He has supervised a number of talented PhD students who found their next positions in leading Universities (Cornell) and industry (VETASSESS, Finisar).
  2. Prof Hussein Abbass is a Professor of Information Technology. He is a Fellow of the Operational Research Society (UK), a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society, and a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders. His current research contributes to trusted autonomy with an aim to design next generation trusted AI systems that seamlessly integrate humans and smart autonomous systems; in particular, vehicle-based and software-based swarm systems. His work fuses AI, big data, cognitive science, human factors, operations research, and robotics.
  3. Dr Matt Woolley is a Senior Lecturer, is an Associate Investigator in the ARC Centre for Engineered Quantum Systems. He has published work at the highest level, including papers in Nature, Nature Physics, and Nature Communications. He has expertise in systems engineering.

How to Apply

The first screening of applicants will be done by the Principal Supervisor. Please send the following information in an email to A/Prof. Andrey Miroshnichenko at andrey.miroshnichenko "AT" unsw.edu.au. Please cc hussein.abbass "AT" gmail.com and m.woolley "AT" unsw.edu.au
CV;
Copy of transcripts;
Copy of previous publications;
Explain how your work fits this project and why you are most suitable for this scholarship