Gurshaant Singh Malik, an electrical and computer engineering (ECE) PhD student at the University of Waterloo, has been honoured with the prestigious Best-Paper Award at the 2024 International Conference on Field-Programmable Technology (FPT) held in Sydney, Australia.
Malik’s paper, co-authored with his PhD supervisor, electrical and computer engineering professor, Dr. Nachiket Kapre, is titled "GraphNoC: Graph Neural Networks for Application-Specific FPGA NoC Performance Prediction." The paper proposes a novel approach to enhance the performance of Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based systems by integrating Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) with Network-on-Chip (NoC) designs. This innovation represents a significant leap forward by providing highly accurate, fast, and cost-effective performance predictions for FPGA NoCs—transforming the way engineers design and optimize FPGA systems.
The core idea behind the paper is the use of GNNs to replace slow and expensive traditional benchmarking tools used for FPGA NoC performance testing. By utilizing predictive models powered by GNNs, Malik’s research has the potential to accelerate FPGA design cycles by as much as 37 times, allowing developers to iterate more quickly and efficiently. Traditionally, the design process for FPGA NoCs can take days, posing a critical bottleneck; Malik's work promises to democratize FPGA design by making this process faster, more accessible, and far less resource-intensive.
This research could have a profound impact on industries that rely heavily on FPGA-based systems, from telecommunications to automotive applications, by enhancing the flexibility and scalability of these systems.
Recognition at this year’s FPT conference adds to the growing list of accolades for Waterloo’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. In 2019, Dr. Kapre and his students, including Malik and then-undergraduate Long Chung Chan, were also awarded the Best Paper Award at the same conference for their work.
The annual FPT conference is one of the premier global platforms for researchers and industry professionals to present their latest work in the field of field-programmable technologies. As one of the most influential gatherings in the field, it serves as a key venue for advancing cutting-edge research and fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
Malik’s unique academic journey
Malik’s achievement is particularly notable considering his unique academic journey. A part-time PhD student at Waterloo, he has balanced his rigorous academic work with a full-time career as a Machine Learning Engineer. He was attracted to ECE’s PhD program for its focus on cutting-edge research and the chance to collaborate with renowned faculty members. Being mentored by Dr. Kapre and having his PhD committee composed of distinguished professors like Drs. Mark Aagaard and Andrew Morton was a significant draw for him.
Looking ahead, Malik’s work promises to open new doors for both academic and industrial applications of FPGA technologies. As the field of field-programmable systems continues to evolve, his research offers a blueprint for accelerating innovation and improving the performance of complex hardware systems.
Congratulations, Malik!