people
In this page, we list the current/past members of the Nanoscape Lab – faculty, postdoctoral researchers, undergraduate and graduate students.
Lab Director
 | Swarup Bhunia, PhD Dr. Bhunia is a Preeminence Professor of Cybersecurity & Semmoto Endowed Chair of Internet of Things, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida. He also serves as the Director of the Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World at University of Florida. Full Biography |
Current/Past Postdoctoral Researchers
 | Peyman Dehghanzadeh, PhD Peyman has been a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida between 2024 – 2025, where he completed his Ph.D. under the supervision of Prof. Swarup Bhunia. His research focused on hardware accelerators for artificial neural networks, emphasizing the design of low-power, high-performance circuits for edge intelligence. His work involved developing hardware primitives that effectively balance power efficiency, silicon area, and speed. Peyman had his internship at Texas Instruments as an Analog IC Designer, where he developed a BCI-tolerant transmitter for battery monitoring ICs operating in electrically noisy environments. His broader research interests include hardware security, compute-in-memory architectures, RFICs, and analog integrated circuit design. Dr. Dehghanzadeh is currently an assistant professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Tech. Current Affiliation: Assistant Professor at Florida Institute of Technology Online Profile |
 | Patanjali SLPSK, PhD Patanjali worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Florida with Dr. Swarup Bhunia. He completed his Ph.D. at IIT Madras, India advised by Dr. Kamakoti Veezhinathan. His research interests include (1) AI for System Design: Data modelling and developing AI-models for designing the next generation of hardware systems, (2) AI for Hardware Security: Data modelling and AI-models for efficient countermeasure evaluation, vulnerability detection and AI-assisted countermeasures for mitigating higher-order supply chain threats, and (3) Cybersecurity for AI: Developing metrics and algorithms for secure development, deployment and operations of AI-systems. Dr. SLPSK is currently an assistant professor at the Department of Computer & Cyber Sciences, Augusta University. Current Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras Online Profile |
 | Krishnendu Guha, PhD Krishnendu is presently an Assistant Professor/Lecturer in the School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. Prior to this, he was a Post Doctoral Research Associate at University of Florida, USA. He completed his PhD from University of Calcutta, India as an INSPIRE Fellow under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. He was an Intel India Research Fellow. His research interests include Embedded Systems and Hardware Security, Quantum Computing, Real Time Systems Security, and Nature Inspired Approaches. Current Affiliation: Assistant Professor, University College Cork (UCC), Ireland Online Profile |
Current PhD Students
 | Dinesh Reddy Ankireddy Dinesh received his Master of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, in 2025. He completed his degree under the thesis track, working with Dr. Swarup Bhunia. His research focuses on formal verification and hardware security. Current Affiliation: Graduate Research Assistant at UF Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World |
 | Aritra Dasgupta Aritra is pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida under the supervision of Dr. Swarup Bhunia. His research primarily focuses on developing countermeasures for hardware IP protection, security & trust. Before joining UF, Aritra received his Master of Technology degree in Digital Systems and Instrumentation from IIEST Shibpur, India, in 2019 and his Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from NIT Durgapur, India, in 2017. Current Affiliation: Graduate Research Assistant at UF Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World |
 | Md Rezoan Ferdous Rezoan is a PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida, working under the supervision of Dr. Swarup Bhunia. He received his MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, US, in 2024, and his BS in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh, in 2019. His research interests include VLSI design and testing, hardware security and trust, machine learning, deep learning, and AI-assisted EDA methodologies. Current Affiliation: Graduate Research Assistant at UF Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World |
 | Rohan Reddy Kalavakonda Rohan is a PhD candidate in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Distinguished by his hands-on research approach, he excels in cross-disciplinary collaborations that connect electronic system design with fields such as Education, Orthopedics, Entomology, and Agriculture. Rohan’s passion lies in translating complex technologies into accessible real-world applications, focusing on solutions that create meaningful impact. He thrives in collaborative settings where diverse teams address multifaceted challenges, consistently demonstrating how engineering innovation can drive positive societal change across numerous disciplines Current Affiliation: Graduate Research Assistant at UF Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World |
 | Daniel Lobo Daniel received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Computer Science from the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida. His research interests include hardware security and machine learning for cybersecurity. Current Affiliation: Graduate Research Fellow at UF Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World |
 | Aidan Myers Aidan is currently pursuing a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida. In 2025 he received his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Indiana University Bloomington in Intelligent Systems Engineering (Computer Engineering). His research interests are in advance Hardware Trojan detection and development, Hardware Assurance, and Hardware Security as a whole. Current Affiliation: Graduate Research Fellow at UF Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World |
 | Sudipta Paria Sudipta is currently pursuing his PhD degree in the ECE department at the University of Florida under the guidance of Dr. Swarup Bhunia. Prior to joining UF, he received his Master of Technology degree in Computer Science & Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, India in 2020 and his Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Science & Engineering from WBUT, India in 2014. His research area includes hardware IP protection, SoC Security, and CAD tools development for hardware security & trust. Personal Website: https://www.sudiptaparia.com Current Affiliation: Graduate Research Assistant at UF Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World |
 | Habibur Rahaman Habibur is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida, USA. His research interests lie at the intersection of Hardware Security and Artificial Intelligence, with a particular focus on AI security, including the detection and mitigation of adversarial attacks on machine learning systems, as well as the design of secure and efficient ML hardware. He received his Master’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT KGP) in 2022. Habibur gained industry experience through internships at Intel Corporation, where he worked as a DFT Intern in Bangalore from July 2021 to December 2022, and later as an SoC Security Intern in Santa Clara County, California, from August 2023 to December 2023. His research paper, “SAMURAI: A Framework for Safeguarding Against Malicious Usage and Resilience of AI “, was nominated for the Best Paper Award at the 33rd IEEE Asian Test Symposium (ATS 2024), recognizing his contribution to advancing the field of hardware and AI-based security. Link: Camera Ready Manuscript Submission – Electronics and Communications Current Affiliation: Graduate Research Assistant at UF Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World |
 | Zongwei Zhen Zongwei graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and a Master’s degree from Columbia University. He specializes in embedded system design, wearable devices, digital logic design, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Current Affiliation: Graduate Research Assistant at UF Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World |
Current MS Students
 | Shaun Jose Shaun is an international student from India pursuing M.S. degree in Applied Data Science at the University of Florida. Shaun is a data science professional with a strong background in AI research, data analytics, and intelligent systems development. Shaun previously worked as a Senior Data Analyst at Accenture, where he improved customer conversion and energy efficiency through advanced analytics and machine learning. At Bridgei2i, he enhanced BI dashboards and data pipelines, significantly improving reporting efficiency. His personal projects span AI agents, music recommender systems, and predictive football chatbots. |
 | Rishith Paramasivam Rishith received his B.E. in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering from R.V. College of Engineering, Bengaluru, India. He is pursuing a thesis-based Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Florida under Dr. Swarup Bhunia, with research interests in FPGA development and low-power VLSI design. |
 | Deivanai Thiyagarajan Deivanai is an international student from India pursuing an M.S. degree in Applied Data Science at the University of Florida. She is a data engineer and applied data science professional with expertise in large-scale data processing, machine learning, and intelligent system development. Deivanai has industry experience at Meta, Ecolab, and Infosys, where she built scalable data pipelines, optimized SQL workflows, and developed dashboards to improve efficiency and data-driven decision-making. While her expertise lies primarily in data engineering and analytics, she is keen on expanding her knowledge in artificial intelligence, particularly in large language models and intelligent systems. Her personal projects span movie recommendation systems with hybrid filtering, AI-powered board game agents, and conversational LLM pipelines, reflecting her strong interest in bridging data engineering with advanced AI applications. |
 | Tianjun Wang Tianjun is currently pursuing a B.S./M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Florida. He will begin his Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. Swarup Bhunia in December 2025. His research interests focus on ensuring food and medicine security through multi-modal spectroscopy. |
Current Undergraduate Students
 | David Bickram David is a junior international student from Trinidad and Tobago pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at the University of Florida. Growing up in Trinidad, he developed a fascination with how technology works, often exploring the mechanics of devices and experimenting with small electronics. He chose computer engineering because it allows him to bridge his interests in hardware and software while creating practical solutions with real-world impact. His academic focus includes embedded systems, smart technologies, and the integration of AI into everyday applications. He currently serves as Executive Vice President of the Freshman Leadership Engineering Group (FLEG) and as a Resident Assistant with UF Housing and Residence Life. In these roles, David works with faculty, industry partners, and peers to foster leadership, professional development, and community engagement across UF and the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. David’s career interests lie at the intersection of embedded systems and innovation-driven technology. By combining hardware knowledge with software design, he aims to develop practical solutions that address pressing societal needs and improve the quality of life for people around the world. |
 | Zhenni Li Zhenni is an undergraduate student in Digital Arts & Sciences at the University of Florida, with previous academic experience in computer science. Her research interests include wearable sensing systems, 3D anatomical modeling, and the integration of digital media with hardware technologies. She is particularly interested in applying 3D modeling and simulation to support human-centered sensing research. Outside of research, she enjoys animation, interactive design, and creative storytelling. |
 | Jeremiah Hidayat Jeremiah is an undergraduate student in computer engineering with research interests in digital design, interdisciplinary engineering, and IoT applications. His work explores the intersection of hardware and software, and he is passionate about developing practical and impactful systems. Outside of research, he enjoys photography, playing the piano, and reading. |
 | Andy Nguyen Andy is an undergraduate student in electrical engineering with research interests in embedded systems, and wearable hardware. He is currently work on Pasteables and optimizing IMU placement for the highest accuracy for motion reconstruction. Outside of research, he enjoys video games, working out, and playing pickleball. |
 | Shayla Pham Shayla is an undergraduate student in computer science. Her research explores the paradigm of merging natural and artificial intelligence. Outside of research, she enjoys quality time with friends and family, journaling, reading, and exercising. |
 | Gabriel Kim-Guisbert Gabriel is a sophomore undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Computer Engineering at the University of Florida, with research interests in ML, digital design, and embedded systems. He is currently working under Habibur Rahaman, exploring hardware security for ML applications. |
Graduated PhD Students
 | Atri Chatterjee PhD, 12/2025 Current Affiliation: Senior Silicon Design Engineer at AMD Online Profile |
 | Junjun Huan PhD, 08/2025 Current Affiliation: Electrical Engineer at Globus Medical Online Profile |
 | Rasheed Almawazan PhD, 12/2024 Current Affiliation: Assistant Professor at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University Online Profile |
| Peyman Dehghanzadeh PhD, 08/2024 Current Affiliation: Assistant Professor at Florida Institute of Technology Online Profile |
 | Aritra Bhattacharyay PhD, MS (with thesis), 05/2024 Current Affiliation: Principal/Staff R&D Engineer at Synopsys |
 | Christopher Vega PhD, 12/2023 Current Affiliation: Embedded Security Researcher at Sandia National Laboratories Online Profile |
 | Reiner Dizon-Paradis PhD, 12/2023 Current Affiliation: Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Florida Online Profile |
 | Pravin Gaikwad PhD, 12/2023 Current Affiliation: SoC Logic Design Engineer at Intel Online Profile |
 | David Joseph Ariando PhD, 08/2023 Current Affiliation: Engineer at Apple Online Profile |
 | Haixiang Zhao PhD, 12/2022 Current Affiliation: Senior Engineer (Mixed Signal Design Engineering) at Analog Device Online Profile |
 | Moshiur Rahman PhD, 12/2022 Current Affiliation: CPU Physical Design Engineer at Intel Online Profile |
 | Jonathan Cruz PhD, 12/2022 Current Affiliation: R&D S&E Cybersecurity Researcher at Sandia National Laboratories Online Profile |
 | Prabuddha Chakraborthy PhD, 08/2022 Current Affiliation: Assistant Professor at University of Maine Online Profile |
 | Naren Vikram Raj Masna PhD, 08/2022 Current Affiliation: Lead Software Engineer at Cadence Design Systems Online Profile |
 | Shubhra Deb Paul PhD, 05/2022 Current Affiliation: Engineering Staff UA2 at Public Utilities Commission Idaho Online Profile |
 | Sumaiya Shomaji PhD, 08/2021 Current Affiliation: Assistant Professor at University of Kansas Online Profile |
 | Atul Prasad Debnath PhD, 05/2021 Current Affiliation: Staff Engineer at Qualcomm Inc. Online Profile |
 | Abdulrahman M Alaql PhD, 12/2020 Current Affiliation: General Manager of the Cybersecurity Institute at KACST Online Profile |
 | Tamzidul Hoque PhD, 08/2020 Current Affiliation: Assistant Professor at University of Kansas Online Profile |
 | Shuo Yang PhD, 12/2019 Current Affiliation: Software Engineer at TikTok USA Online Profile |
 | Kai Yang PhD, 04/2018 Current Affiliation: Senior Project Engineer at GE Vernova Online Profile |
 | Fengchao Zhang PhD, 03/2018 Current Affiliation: SoC Design Engineer at Intel Online Profile |
 | Robert Karam PhD, 06/2017 Current Affiliation: Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs at University of South Florida Online Profile |
 | Wenchao Qian PhD, 03/2016 Current Affiliation: Senior Member of Technical Staff at AMD Online Profile |
 | Abhishek Basak PhD, 03/2016 Current Affiliation: Senior HW Security Architect at NVIDIA Online Profile |
 | Yu Zheng PhD, 07/2014 Current Affiliation: R&D Research Engineer at Broadcom Inc. Online Profile |
 | Xinmu Wang PhD, 08/2013 Current Affiliation: Senior Engineer, Corporate Product Security at Qualcomm Inc. Online Profile |
 | Seetharam Narasimhan PhD, 04/2012 Current Affiliation: Principal Hardware Security Architect at Nvidia Online Profile |
 | Somnath Paul PhD, 07/2011 Current Affiliation: Senior System Performance and Power Architect at Nvidia Online Profile |
 | Rajat Subhra Chakraborthy PhD, 06/2010 Current Affiliation: Professor at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur Online Profile |
Graduated Masters Students
| Aritra Bhattacharyay PhD, MS (with thesis), 05/2024 |
 | Christopher Posada MS (with thesis), 05/2023 |
 | Abhishek Chakravadhanula MS (with thesis), 05/2019 |
 | Hitesh Sharma MS (with thesis), 05/2017 |
 | Christopher Babecki MS (with thesis), 12/2015 |
 | Vaishnavi N. Ranganathan MS (with thesis), 06/2013 |
 | MaryamSadat Hashemian MS (with thesis), 06/2013 |
 | Anandaroop Ghosh MS (with thesis), 03/2013 |
 | Lei Wang MS (with thesis), 06/2012 |
 | E-Jen Lien MS (with thesis), 04/2012 |
 | Keerthi Kunaparaju MS (with thesis), 03/2011 |
 | Dong Dong Du MS(with thesis), 06/2010 |
 | David Stalter MS (with thesis), 03/2010 |
 | Matthew Holtz MS (with project), 12/2007 |
 | Yu Zhou MS (with thesis), 12/2007 |
 | Lawrence Lienweber MS (with thesis), 06/2007 |