Career Profile
Osaze Shears is passionate about many engineering and computational concepts. These include embedded systems, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and microprocessor technologies.
Osaze spends his free time tutoring other students who are interested in learning to become better computer scientists and engineers to benefit the greater society. The platform he uses is Wyzant and has worked with Wyzant for nearly 5 years.
Osaze is currently a Research Engineer working for the University of Southern California’s Information Sciences Institute. His research interests include:
- Spiking Neural Networks
- Hardware Acceleration
- SoC Design with ASICs and FPGAs
- Deep Learning
- Low Power Computing
- Augmented and Mixed Reality
Experiences
- Working under the Reconfigurable Computing Group
- Contributing to FPGA Security research and development
- Testing Xilinx FPGA devices, including Versal, UltraScale+, and Zynq
- Researching under the Multifunctional Integrated Circuits and Systems (MICS) Lab
- Studying neuromorphic computing implementations on digital integrated circuits
- Collaborating with other graduate students to develop next generation machine learning hardware leveraging neuromorphic computing
- Mentoring a team of 4 undergraduate students in researching digital neuromorphic computing, machine learning, and reservoir computing
- Private tutor on Wyzant.com specializing in computer science, computer engineering and programming languages.
- Subjects include Verilog, VHDL, Java, Python, C, C++, Swift/Xcode, and Calculus
- Computer science and engineering tutoring available at: https://www.wyzant.com/Tutors/Osaze
- Provided weekly office hours and remote support for students in ECE 2514: Computational Engineering
- Provided grading and logistical support for ECE 2514: Computational Engineering
- Created various UVM test sequences for verifying several protocols on ASICs (PCI, JTAG, I2C)
- Constructed several scripts to automate memory built-in self-test (MBIST) operations and fuse repairs
- Performed design for test pattern generation and bring-up tasks on the RAD5545 single-board computer
- Mentored a team of interns in programming software to perform memory test and repair tasks
- Served in the onsite Young Professionals and Health & Wellness committees
- Experience documenting and integrating memory built-in self-test (MBIST) systems written in Verilog and VHDL
- Experience modifying and simulating Universal Verification Methodology (UVM) Test Benches
- Assisted with teaching 90 students in ECE 331: Digital Systems Design
- Assisted with teaching 60 students in ECE 332: Digital Electronics and Logic Design Lab
- Provide mentoring and tutoring services for George Mason University Engineering courses
- Equip students with effective study habits and techniques to succeed outside of tutoring
- Concentrate in supporting students with Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Physics and Calculus
- Managed the website for ODIME
- Assisted with scheduling and organization of GMU’s Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP)
- Developed a mobile app to provide information about the STEP program to the students
- Designed a new visual identity for the organization
- Developed an mobile app to help students calculate their grade point averages
Projects
Below is a list of projects that I have engaged in over the years:
BladeRF Delayed Feedback Reservoir
- A reservoir computing accelerator embedded in the BladeRF software defined radio
Hybrid FPGA-ASIC Delayed Feedback Reservoir
- A hybrid reservoir computing system leveraging FPGA and ASIC capabilities
Multiprocessing with Spiking Neural Networks
- A Benchmarking Evaluation of Multithreaded SNNs in BindsNET
Image Classification with Spiking Neural Networks
- An Accuracy Evaluation of various SNNs for performing MNIST Digit Classification in BindsNET
Hardware Security Survey
- An overview of the need for hardware security and its implementation.
Memory Built-In Self-Test Integration
- An project to improve the integration of MBIST logic into ASICs at BAE Systems.
Real Estate Price Prediction using Machine Learning
- An introduction to predicting real estate prices in Virginia using various Machine Learning models.
Single-Cycle MIPS Processor on FPGA
- A Simple MIPS Processor Developed on a Basys 2 Development Board
GMU GPA
- A Mobile Application to Help GMU Students Estimate Their GPAs
Publications
Below is a list of publications that I have written.
2021 IEEE/ACM International Conference On Computer Aided Design (ICCAD)
Awards
Below is a list of my accomplishments over the years.
Awarded by Virginia Tech's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Awarded by GMU's Volgenau School of Engineering (VSE)
Awarded by GMU's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department's
Awarded by GMU's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department's
Awarded by GMU's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department's for Project LENS
Awarded by GMU's Volgenau School of Engineering (VSE) for Project LENS
Awarded by GMU's Honors College
Awarded by GMU's Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)
Awarded by GMU's Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)
Awarded by GMU's Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education (ODIME)
Awarded by GMU's Volgenau School of Engineering (VSE)