
Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) tackles the complex challenges of integrating thousands of electronic devices into a single, high-performance integrated circuit. This dynamic field encompasses every critical aspect of VLSI system design, from system specifications to design partitioning, and emphasizes reliability and yield. Graduate students collaborate closely with renowned faculty to push the boundaries of innovation, addressing real-world problems with cutting-edge tools, ranging from advanced three-dimensional field solvers to integrated design flows. Research in VLSI is brought to life through the design and fabrication of integrated circuits, often leveraging state-of-the-art nano-meter complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) processes. The work is heavily supported by both local and international industry leaders, ensuring that students’ research has a direct, transformative impact on the technology of tomorrow.
Faculty members participating in Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) research:
James Barby

Biography
Dr. James Barby is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
His research interests include mixed-mode and behavioural models of devices, complex analog or mixed-mode circuits, simulation of switched networks for communications and power electronics, analysis methods and models for digital, analog and mixed-signal VLSI systems, and optimal fit numerical approximations of transistor models.
In addition to his research work, Dr. Barby has written journal papers for IEEE and annual conference papers for the International Symposium on Circuits and Systems.
Research interests
- mixed-mode and behavioural models of devices
- complex analog or mixed-mode circuits
- simulation of switched networks
- analog and mixed-signal VLSI systems
- optimal fit numerical approximations of transistor
- circuits Design & VLSI
Vincent Gaudet

Biography
Vincent Gaudet is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
His research interests focus on high-speed and energy-efficient microelectronic circuits applied to digital communication systems and signal processing. He is particularly interested in stochastic computing systems and multiple-valued logic. He has worked on low-density parity-check (LDPC) and turbo decoders, multiple-access channels, implantable neural recording systems, and integrated lab-on-chip instrumentation circuitry.
Dr. Gaudet is currently a Senior Member of the IEEE, and holds many editorial positions. In 2009, he received the Petro Canada Young Innovator Award to recognize and support his work of outstanding young faculty-based research.
Research interests
- VLSI circuits
- Analog circuits
- Mixed-signal circuits
- Digital circuits
- CMOS design
- Low-power circuits
- LDPC decoding
- Turbo decoding
- Iterative decoding
- Stochastic computation
- Connectivity and Internet of Things
- Digital design and fabrication technologies
- Embedded systems
- Information systems
- Sensors and devices
- Wireless communications/networking
- Microelectronic circuits
- Digital communications
- Signal processing
- Devices
Anwar Hasan

Biography
Dr. Anwar Hasan is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo and holds the Ripple Chair. He is also a faculty member at Waterloo's Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute. From January 2013 to April 2018, Dr. Hasan served as the Associate Dean of Research and External Partnerships for the Faculty of Engineering.
Dr. Hasan's research focuses on cryptographic computations and embedded systems, dependable and secure computing, and security for cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT).
He has contributed to numerous books, journal articles, and conference papers and has received several awards recognizing his outstanding achievements in research.
Research interests
- Cryptographic Hardware
- Embedded Systems
- Dependable and Secure Computing
- Computer Arithmetic
- Computer Architecture
- Computer Security
- Network Security
- Computer & Software Engineering
- Cloud Technology
- Security
- Cybersecurity
- Blockchain
- Privacy and Cryptography
- Information Security
- Operational Security
Karim Karim

Biography
Dr. Karim S. Karim is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He has secured more than $15M in research grant funding, trained over 40 PhD and MASc students, and has co-authored 250+ publications and 50+ patents.
He is a founder and Chief Technology Officer of KA Imaging, a University of Waterloo spinoff company that makes innovative X-ray detectors and systems for medical, veterinary, scientific and industrial markets. Dr. Karim has developed novel imaging devices and systems since 1998, and has both supported and founded multiple startups over the past two decades. One of his “color” X-ray innovations is now starting to replace black and white medical X-ray globally, while another is used in ultrasonic fingerprint sensors in mobile phones and tablets.
Research interests
- Spectral X-ray Imaging
- Phase Contrast X-ray Imaging
- Medical Imaging
- Large area electronics
- Semiconductor Devices and Fabrication
Peter Levine

Biography
Dr. Peter Levine is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
His research group develops complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits (ICs) that translate the chemical world of biology to the digital world. By combining standard CMOS analog/mixed-signal ICs with novel structures, materials, or devices, he and his team are developing advanced CMOS imagers and biosensors for a wide range of life-science and biosensing applications.
Research interests
- CMOS analog/mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs)
- CMOS electrochemical biosensors
- CMOS imagers (visible, IR, and X-ray)
David Nairn

Biography
Dr. David Nairn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
His research is mainly in the field of electronic circuits, including analog and mixed signal circuit design, with an emphasis on analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and digital-to-analog converters (DACs).
Research interests
- Analog and Mixed Signal Circuit Design
- Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs)
- Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs)
- Circuit Design & VLSI
Manoj Sachdev

Biography
Dr. Manoj Sachdev is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
His research interests include low power and high performance digital circuit design, mixed-signal circuit design, and test and manufacturing issues of integrated circuits. He has contributed to over 180 conference and journal publications, and has written 5 books. He also holds more than 30 granted US patents.
Dr. Sachdev, along with his students and colleagues, have received several international research awards. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada. Dr. Sachdev serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Electronic Testing: Theory and Applications. He is also a member of program of IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conference.
Research interests
- Digital circuit design for low power
- low voltage applications
- High performance mixed-signal circuit design
- Robust design practices for VLSI
- VLSI testing and design
- VLSI quality
- VLSI reliability
- VLSI improvement techniques
- Circuits Design & VLSI
- Cybersecurity
- Application security
- Network security
Derek Wright

Biography
Derek Wright is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and currently serving as the Director of Mechatronics Engineering. He also serves as the faculty advisor for the Waterloo Aerial Robotics Group. His research is in Digital ICs (especially spiking neural networks), Medical Imaging Physics, and Multidomain Modeling and Simulation. Dr. Wright is interested in productization and commercialization efforts related to this research and to student initiatives.
Research interests
- Neuromorphic hardware
- VLSI
- Multidomain modeling and simulation
Adjunct faculty members participating in Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) research:
Mohamed Elmasry (Adjunct)
Biography
Dr. Mohamed Elmasry, FRSC, FIEEE, FCAE, FEIC, is an Adjunct Professor Emeritus in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
He is the author of iMind: Artificial and Real Intelligence (Routledge, 2024), and is a top expert with 50 years experience in Artificial Neural Networks (the building blocks of AI).
Research interests
- VLSI circuits
- system design
- wireless communications systems
Catherine Gebotys (Adjunct)

Biography
Catherine H. Gebotys is an Adjunct Professor Emeritus in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
Her research interests include embedded systems security, side channel analysis for secure devices, security countermeasures for cryptographic algorithms, and countermeasures for hardware hacking – side channel, fault injection, microprobing and reverse engineering.
Dr. Gebotys is the sole inventor of several patents and has also received numerous awards, including the CITO Champions of Innovation Award. In addition, she has collaborated with several companies including DRDC, XtremeEDA, Blackberry, Motorola, ViXS, and COMDEV.
Dr. Gebotys has published a number of research papers in the areas of side channel analysis, embedded security, applied optimization for high-level hardware and software synthesis. She is the author of Security in Embedded Devices, as well as the co-author of Optimal VLSI Architectural Synthesis: area, performance and testability.
Research interests
- Embedded security
- Security countermeasures
- Side channel analysis
- Fault injection analysis
- Photon emissions analysis
Ajoy Opal (Adjunct)

Biography
Dr. Ajoy Opal is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
His research focuses on circuit and filter theory, numerical algorithms for the analysis and design of analog and switched circuits, as well as mixed analog-digital circuits. Dr. Opal's work combines theoretical foundations with practical applications to advance the field of circuit design.
In addition to his research, Dr. Opal is a published author, having co-authored the book Computer Methods for Analysis of Mixed-Mode Switching Circuits with Fei Yuan in 2010. He has also contributed numerous papers to journals and conferences, further advancing the knowledge in his areas of expertise.
Research interests
- Electrical Circuit Theory
- Circuit Simulation
- Analog Filter Design
- Circuits Design & VLSI
- Circuit theory and filter theory
- Numerical algorithms for analysis of analog and switched circuits