Luke Vassallo

Greetings!

Hello there, I’m Luke! I have a background in electronics engineering and a keen interest in artificial intelligence. I find great satisfaction in building customised computational systems that can solve complex problems and impact the world. I specialise in signal processing, artificial intelligence, and embedded systems, focusing on reconfigurable heterogeneous platforms.

As an engineer, I have a natural curiosity and a strong motivation to continuously learn and expand my knowledge. I’m particularly passionate about exploring various ideas and concepts related to computational systems inspired by biology and neuroscience. This could include examining the underlying structures or studying processes that demonstrate adaptability, intelligence, or emergent properties. I believe that interdisciplinary research can lead to innovative developments in areas related to computation and intelligent systems. I would be happy to chat and explore potential collaborations if you’re working on related projects or have any interesting ideas. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

In my free time, I love engaging in various activities. Running and exploring the outdoors are among my top favourites. Exploring remote areas is a unique way to experience adventure and appreciate nature’s beauty. Besides, meeting up with friends over a cold beer is always enjoyable. I am also keen on learning how to sail as it offers an exciting way to discover new places on the open water. It’s something I look forward to doing in the future.

Luke's photo was taken at Tigné in Sliema, Malta.

Research Interests

  • High-Performance Computing
  • Computer Organisation and Architecture
  • Biologically Inspired Systems
  • Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

Engineering Interests

  • Digital and Analog Circuit Design
  • Hardware-Software Co-Design
  • Real-Time Embedded Systems
  • Signal Processing

News

2023/11/08 – Research paper titled Learning Circuit Placement Techniques through Reinforcement Learning with Adaptive Rewards, based on my Master thesis has been accepted for publication in Design Automation and Test in Europe (DATE’24)! (Paper, video, code)

2023/10/01 – I have joined the Institut für Technische Informatik (Computer Architecture Group) at Universität Heidelberg for my Ph.D., where I am investigating hardware-software co-design methodologies for emerging computing systems.

2023/08/25 – I have completed my Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and will be graduating with the highest honours. (Summary, thesis)

2023/06/06 – I successfully defended my Master’s Thesis on Automated PCB Component Placement using Reinforcement Learning.

2023/04/03 – I joined the High-Performance Computing and Data Analysis research group at the University of Osijek for a temporary position. My objective is to investigate alternative x86 architectures for HPC workloads.

2023/03/27 – Taped out my first ASIC – A dual channel XOR stream cipher with fully programmable 32-bit Galois LFSRs. Carried out for participation in Tiny Tapeout 3 using the OpenLane design flow and will be manufactured on the SkyWater 130nm node (Tiny Tapeout, code).

2023/03/09 – The personal website is made public.

2023/01/18 – Submitted conference paper titled Generalised PCB Component Placement through Reinforcement Learning with Adaptive Rewards for the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI) 2023.

2023/01/04 – Submitted M.Sc Thesis titled Automated PCB Component Placement using Reinforcement Learning for examination.

2022/06/10 – The Malta Digital Innovation Authority granted the Pathfinder Digital Scholarship for conducting Artificial Intelligence research in Electronic Design Automation.