Research
Professor Kahng's research interests include algorithms and
methodologies for the computer-aided physical design of VLSI circuits,
performance analysis of circuits and interconnects, discrete algorithms,
and combinatorial and large-scale heuristic optimization.
Major research foci include (1) the semiconductor design-manufacturing
interface, especially the cost-effective mitigation and compensation
of manufacturing process variability, (2) semiconductor technology and
system roadmapping, and (3) fundamental algorithms and optimizations
for (module, interconnect) layout synthesis in digital and mixed-signal
designs at all levels of system hierarchy.
Professor Kahng's group also has interests in other applied algorithmics
contexts such as networking, bioinformatics, and computational commerce.
Securely funded research positions (post-doc and graduate research
assistant) are available in the group. These are associated with the
MARCO Gigascale Systems
Research Center (system-level roadmap in the "Core Pillar"), with
research in the VLSI design-manufacturing interface, and with VLSI
physical design. Active funding sources include MARCO (1 project),
STARC (1 project), and NSF (1 project). As a rule, all of Professor
Kahng's Ph.D. students are guaranteed financial support for the duration
of their Ph.D. studies, subject to continued progress in an advisor/advisee
relationship. Support is generally at the maximum level permitted by
the university or department (typically, 50 percent GSR during term-time
and 100 percent GSR during summer or intersession).