Engineering grad student receives prestigious grant

Portland State computer engineering graduate student Arpita Sinha received a letter last month informing her that she is the recipient of a prestigious grant from the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. Sinha and her team of graduate students, led by Assistant Professor Christof Teuscher, are pushing the boundaries of modern computers with their research in “neuromorphic non-linear networks.”

“At some point, computers will reach their physical limits,” Sinha said.

The now-standard silicon and semi-conductor components used to manufacture computers will eventually be physically incapable of handling the next generation of computing power, according to Sinha.

This is where neuromorphic research comes in. The ultimate goal of this research is to one day design and manufacture biological computers that use components that function like the neurons in our brains—hence the term “neuromorphic.” However, at this point science is very far away from actually accomplishing this task, Sinha said.

In the lab, Sinha and other students working on the project literally evolve the designs for biological circuitry through software that they have written themselves. Sinha said that the software they have created helps her to breed the most optimal circuit designs through generation after generation of selective breeding.

The neuron-like circuits that are created by the software are called “memristors.” While a normal resistor will always send out a pre-determined amount of electrical current, the output of memristors will be able to change and adapt to various conditions in a biological computer. What’s more, memristors will be able to remember which currents have passed through them before, and change their output accordingly.

The project started with Teucher’s idea last winter, but really picked up speed over the summer, after Sinha wrote a paper that got the ball rolling on the project.

“Sigma Xi is the international honor society of science, celebrating its 125th anniversary this year,” said Linda Mantel, president of the local Sigma Xi chapter. “Sigma Xi funding comes from member dues, donations, gifts and grants, sponsorships, etc.”

Most grants are limited to $1,000; Sinha received the maximum allowed in her field. Mantel said that they receive about 2,000 applications every year, but that only about 500 receive any kind of award. Students receiving awards from Mantel’s chapter (the Columbia-Willamette chapter) also receive a $100 supplement from the organization.

This past year, four other PSU students received awards from Mantels’ Sigma Xi chapter.

In addition to the $1,000 Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research, Sinha’s project is funded by a roughly $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Teuscher said that while the Sigma Xi grant only funds a fraction of the project, receiving funds from an organization like Sigma Xi is more about the recognition than anything. It’s something that Sinha will be able to put on her resume and something that PSU can be proud of as well.

Teuscher expressed how impressed he has been and continues to be with Sinha’s work on the project.

“She really deserves this,” he said.

Teuscher said he hasn’t received the check for the award yet, but it should be arriving sometime this month. The money will be used to purchase “a special piece of hardware that will be used in the project.”

Sinha said that the application process for the grant was very simple.

“It was pretty much like a scholarship application,” she said. “It was something I could have done in a weekend.”

She said that the application asked for her information, a one-page proposal of what she would do with the funds and two letters of reference. Sinha explained that anyone is able to apply before the bi-annual application deadlines.

For more information on Sigma Xi and how to apply for funding, visit SigmaXi.org and contact the local chapter. ?