Grad Student Assistant - ECE #570825959

Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises Employment Services

ANNOUNCEMENT OF POSITION VACANCY

SUMMARY:  **Exciting Career Opportunity at the Reconfigurable Space Computing Laboratory! **

The Reconfigurable Space Computing Laboratory is excited to announce that we are actively seeking ten highly motivated and dedicated students to join our innovative team! We have openings for three master’s students and two Undergraduate students to contribute to a prestigious project funded by a three-year U.S. Navy grant. This groundbreaking project explores optimal strategies for mapping Natural Language Processing (NLP) models onto reconfigurable computing platforms. Successful candidates will have the unique opportunity to work at the forefront of technology, engage with advanced computing solutions, and play a pivotal role in a project of national significance.  Suppose you have a passion for computer science, a knack for problem-solving, and a desire to contribute to cutting-edge research. In that case, we encourage you to apply and be a part of our dynamic research environment!

The Reconfigurable Space Computing Laboratory, initiated at CalPoly, Pomona, in 2020, is a pioneering entity concentrating on the computational aspects of space applications. Since its inception, the lab has actively engaged in numerous NASA competitions. It has secured prestigious accolades, such as the NASA MINDS 2022 award for innovative work on developing a novel drone docking mechanism in mid-air. Additionally, the laboratory is delving into lightweight and post-quantum cryptography acceleration, contributing to advancements in secure and efficient computational solutions. The laboratory operates under the proficient leadership of Dr. Mohamed El-Hadedy, an Associate Professor at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, College of Engineering at CalPoly,  Pomona, who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to guide the lab's pioneering research endeavors.

ABOUT US: As the largest employer of students on the Cal Poly Pomona campus, the Enterprises offers valuable work experience and hands-on training to approximately 1,500 Cal Poly Pomona students each year. The Enterprises offers positions in various fields; whether it is in the area of technology, science, retail, culinary arts, hospitality1500 management, leadership or research grants, these student employees participate in Cal Poly Pomona's learn-by-doing philosophy and acquire practical skills in their designated field of study.

The Enterprises also contributes operating support to nearly 1,100 Enterprises and scholarship programs every year, including Bronco Athletics and the Pepsi Scholarship. In addition, the Enterprises administers grants and contracts, contributes to campus security, and supports several university publications. The Enterprises contributes over $1 million annually to Cal Poly Pomona.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL GET TO DO (this is just a small sampling of work variety): 

The selected candidate will be crucial in utilizing innovative high-level synthesis languages such as Chisel and RUST-HDL to implement NLP on reconfigurable computing platforms (FPGA). The role involves importing the designed processor in a swarm of drones to enable full control of these drones using BERT, exploring the intersection of advanced computing and drone technology!

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• **Undergraduate Students: ** Must be enrolled in a relevant program and have completed Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering coursework. Previous experience or coursework in NLP, FPGA, or drone technology is advantageous.

• **Graduate Students: ** Must be enrolled in a Master. Program in a related field focusing on computer architecture, NLP, or drone technology. Prior experience in implementing NLP models and working with FPGAs is highly desirable.

• Excellent English verbal communication and writing skills.
• Responsible and dependable
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems, think critically, and work independently is crucial.
• Ability to work well with various people, including students, faculty, staff, and high-level administrators. Motivated, innovative, and shows initiative.
• - Experience working on team projects and good communication skills are essential for collaborative work environments.

• —A genuine interest in learning new technologies, tools, and methodologies is essential for adaptingt to the project's evolving needs.

• - The ability to efficiently manage time and prioritize tasks is vital, especially if the student is balancing academic responsibilities alongside the role. 

• - Knowledge of computer architecture, experience with FPGAs, understanding of high-level synthesis languages, and familiarity with cloud computing platforms can also be beneficial, depending on the specific requirements of the role.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and using Overleaf.

PREFERRED

Candidates should have completed relevant coursework or have a foundational understanding of Natural Language Processing, especially in models like BERT.

- Proficiency in programming languages like Python, which is extensively used in NLP, is essential. Experience with PyTorch or TensorFlow would be advantageous.  

- Familiarity with machine learning concepts, particularly in areas related to language models and text processing, is essential.

- Candidates who have worked on projects, hackathons, or internships involving NLP, machine learning models, or related areas will have a practical understanding of applying concepts, which is highly valuable.

- Participation in research projects or contributions to research papers in relevant domains would be a distinct

advantage.

Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises, Inc. may provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodation with the employer.