- About
- Apply
- Awards + Funding
- Graduate Students
- Life + Community
- Faculty + Staff
- Individualized Interdisciplinary Studies in Graduate Studies
"The program offers a comprehensive blend of electronics engineering, computer engineering, and computing science. This combination provided me with a solid foundation to work on a wide array of technical problems."
Philip Stachura
Computer Engineering master's student in the Faculty of Applied Sciences
Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field
I enjoy building things. I like working on projects, exploring new ideas, solving difficult problems. And I think this perfectly describes what engineering is about. Engineering is creating things not made before, its about bringing ideas into reality. I hope to continue to find innovative projects to work on and contribute to advancing the bleeding edge.
Why did you choose to come to SFU?
I chose Simon Fraser University (SFU) for its computer engineering program, which aligned with my interests. The program offers a comprehensive blend of electronics engineering, computer engineering, and computing science. This combination provided me with a solid foundation to work on a wide array of technical problems.
How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?
I work on accelerating the simulation of atomic systems. These simulations use the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics to very accurately represent the behaviour of atomic interactions. Computing them can take a lot of time and limits the size of the simulation to just a few thousand atoms, even if run on large super-computers. I use special devices called Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to help run the simulations faster and more efficiently compared to conventional processors. These simulations are used for the research and development of a wide range of technologies including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, batteries, nanomaterials and more
What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?
FPGA Hardware Acceleration, High Performance Computing, Quantum Chemistry
How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?
My experiences at SFU have allowed me to find what interests me the most and has given me the opportunity to work on a wide variety of interesting projects, whether it be from courses, or clubs. These have helped me develop practical skills and meet like-minded people who share my passion.