Thank you for your interest in joining my research group at Imperial College London’s Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering. I recruit only one or two PhD students each year, which means you will work with me directly, receive tailored supervision and be treated as an independent researcher from early on. I believe that the quality of the PhD student-supervisor relationship is the main driver of successful doctoral outcomes (and that smaller supervisory loads allow the best mentoring culture).
Why join the group
My supervision philosophy is centred on your development as an independent researcher doing exciting cutting-edge research, not just the delivery of a project. My aim is that you graduate with deep expertise, strong disciplinary knowledge (in computer science / hardware / mathematics), the ability to design and evaluate systems, and the confidence to publish and lead research. Good doctoral training emphasises not just technical outcomes but also research-culture, community, and mentoring.
We work at the intersection of rigorous mathematics, hardware-aware architecture, machine learning acceleration, and structural models of computation. Your project will combine algorithmic thinking, digital systems design, mathematics and hardware implementation, enabling you to publish in top venues and build proof-of-concept artefacts such a open-source software or hardware.
More than anything, I want my research group to be a place where people are able to unashamedly enjoy technical persuits and have fun discovering new tech – just like I do.
What you can expect
- Deep engagement: With just one or two new students per year, I meet regularly, and aim to ensure each student owns their topic end-to-end (theory → architecture → implementation → evaluation).
- Immersion in the international research community: My research group is not an island. We work as part of an outstanding international research community, and from Year 1, I aim to embed you in this community through introducing you to key people, attending international conferences, etc.
- Publishing as you go: We aim for high-visibility outputs, mentorship in writing and peer review, and strong placement outcomes.
- Professional development: Beyond research you’ll engage in teaching, conference presentation, peer reviewing, and possibly industry collaboration, forming the basis of your post-PhD career.
- Supportive, inclusive culture: It matters not only what you discover but how you discover it. I believe good doctoral supervision is a key component of a healthy research ecosystem.
- Having fun doing technical stuff!: For me, this is key. The PhD is a chance to have fun doing deeply technical work.
Eligibility and criteria
- A first-class MEng (or equivalent) degree is required; candidates should demonstrate strong academic performance and evidence of rigorous thinking.
- Overseas applicants: Scholarships (such as from Imperial College London or external agencies) are highly competitive: you will have a much stronger application if you already have one or more publications.
- Ideally you should apply by December for the following academic year. However, feel free to contact me year-round with a short statement of interest (and attach your CV and transcript) if you are motivated.
How to apply
- Send me a brief two-page research statement outlining your interests, potential alignment with my group’s themes, and why you want to join.
- Attach your CV, transcript, and links to any publications or code.
- If shortlisted, I will arrange a short virtual meeting (or if local, an in-person chat) to discuss fit, expectations and mutual goals.
- Following our discussion I will guide you through the formal Imperial application process (and scholarship process if relevant).
Current topics
- Hardware accelerator design
- High-level synthesis and corresponding automated code analyses
- Boolean lookup-table-based machine learning and hardware–algorithm co-design
- Equality‐saturation and e-graph rewriting for arithmetic/acceleration
- Novel computer arithmetics, precision models and hardware
- Structural semantics and intensional views of computation in ML/hardware
Further information
For guidance on Imperial College processes and scholarships (eligibility, deadlines, etc.) please refer to the department website.
If you have any questions not covered there, please feel free to contact me personally.
Thinking 