Team Categories
Our Team
Meet our diverse team of researchers and educators working at the intersection of neuromorphic computing, quantum technologies, and artificial intelligence.
The INQUIRE Lab team at the University of Oklahoma
Principal Investigators
Our lab is led by researchers with extensive experience in neuromorphic computing, quantum technologies, and AI systems.
Dr. Yaser M. Banad
Associate Professor, Director of NICS Lab
Dr. Banad leads the Neuromorphic Intelligent Computing Systems (NICS) research laboratory, focusing on integrating advancements across materials, devices, circuits, systems, algorithms, and applications at the University of Oklahoma.
His research interests include neuromorphic computing, intelligent autonomous systems, distributed learning algorithms, and energy-efficient circuit design.
Dr. Sarah S. Sharif
Assistant Professor, Director of QNETS
Dr. Sharif directs the Quantum Nanophotonic Engineering Technology & System (QNETS) group at the University of Oklahoma, focusing on advancing optical and quantum systems.
Her research includes pioneering work in neuromorphic photonics and machine learning applications for optical and quantum optical systems.
Graduate Students
Our graduate students conduct cutting-edge research in areas spanning neuromorphic computing, quantum technologies, and artificial intelligence.
Sara Aminpour
PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Starting: Spring 2024
Research Area: Quantum Machine Learning.
Reza Ahmadvand
PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Starting: Fall 2024
Research Area: Hybrid Neural Networks and Neuromorphic Design.
Sumaia Jahan Mishu
PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Starting: Fall 2024
Research Area: Optimization for Photonic / Nanophotonic Structures.
Arash Ahmadi
PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Starting: Fall 2024
Research Area: Training, Fine tuning, and Interpreting Large Language Models
Logan Larsh
PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Starting: Fall 2024
Research Area: Integrating Quantum Concepts into Neural Networks and related Hardware Design.
Danial Ebrahimzadeh
PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Starting: Fall 2024
Research Area: Generative AI for Material Discovery.
Tonmoy Malakar
PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Starting: Fall 2025
Research Area: Optical detection system based on 2D materials
Mohamad Yazan Sadoun
PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Starting: Fall 2025
Research Area: Neuromorphic computing
Gourab Datta
PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Starting: Fall 2025
Research Area: Material Discovery using AI
Raghd M. Sweiss
Master's Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Spring 2025
Research Area: Neuromorphic Photonics Hardware Design
Adesh M. Bhor
Master Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Fall 2025
Jonas Manchester
Ph.D. Student, Electrical Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Spring 2026
Research Area: Neuromorphic Computing Circuit and Hardware Integration
Focus: Mixed CMOS and memristors within 3D architectures for power efficient neural systems
Meraj Ahmed
Ph.D. Student, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma
Undergraduate Students
Our undergraduate researchers gain hands-on experience with emerging technologies while contributing to meaningful research projects.
Abiel M. Berhanu
Undergraduate Researcher, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Summer 2025
Research Area: Neuromorphic Electronic and VLSI Design
Joshua V. Tu
Undergraduate Researcher, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Spring 2025
Research Area: Design of Nanophotonic Structures in the Mid-Infrared Range
Amen Ftirich
Undergraduate Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Fall 2025
Neuromorphic Photonics, Integrated Photonic Circuit Design
Steven O. Di Jorio
Undergraduate Student
Spring 2025
Comparative Analysis of Neuromorphic Hardware Architectures for Real-Time, Energy-Efficient Edge Intelligence
Dagim T. Worku
Undergraduate Student
Fall 2025
Neuromorphic Hardware Architectures for Real-Time, Energy-Efficient Edge Intelligence
Asif A. Hussein
Undergraduate Student
Spring 2026
Light matter Absorption, FDTD Simulation,
Alumni
Former lab members who have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, and beyond.
Caleb C. Emesiani
Alumni, Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Graduated: Fall 2025
Project: Real-Time Traffic Monitoring with Neuromorphic Computing
Current Position: Samsung Semiconductor, Austin, Texas
Jonas Manchester
Undergraduate Student, Electrical Engineering at The University of Oklahoma
Graduated: Fall 2025
Project: Neuromorphic Computing Circuit and Hardware Integration
Current Position: Ph.D. Student at INQUIRE LAB, UNiversity of Oklahoma
Yuichi Isashi
Master's Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2025
Research Area: Modeling Aerosol Scattering Effects on Free-Space Optical Communication Systems
Abubakar Abdulkadir
Ph.D. Alumni, Computational Toxicology
Graduated: Fall 2023
Research Interest: Machine Learning Applications for Nutraceuticals
Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA
Bhanu Mullamuri
M.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2023
Research Area: Machine Learning Applications for Quantum Computing and Quantum Optics
Saeid Ranjbar
M.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2023
Research Area: Machine Learning Applications for Human Science
Tyler Hayes
B.Sc. Alumni, Computer Science
Graduated: May 2021
Current Position: Capgemini, Houston, Texas
Ella Dodor
B.Sc. Alumni, Computer Science
Graduated: May 2021
Current Position: Ph.D. Student, University of California at Irvine
Kailee Hawkins
M.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2021
Research Area: Machine Learning Applications for Data Analytics Using IBM Watson Studio
Soha Ghaemimood
M.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2021
Research Area: Machine Learning Applications for Developing Data-Driven Geological and Hydrological Models
Nathaniel Price
M.Sc. Alumni, Computer Science
Graduated: Spring 2020
Research Area: Machine Learning Applications for Detecting Cyber-Attacks and Intrusion Detection
Current Position: Technical Writer, formerly ServiceNow Developer at Deloitte
Joleesia Minor
B.Sc. Alumni, Biology
Graduated: Spring 2020
Research Area: Application of Computational Science for Discovering Gene Activation Sequences
Kayla Brumfield
B.Sc. Alumni, Computer Science
Graduated: Spring 2020
Research Area: Application of Machine Learning and Data Analysis for Psychological and Human Science
Chinedu Ejim
M.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2020
Research Area: Machine Learning Applications for Analyzing GIS Databases for Surface Water Management
Alexander Shelton
M.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2020
Research Area: Cybersecurity Issues and Solutions for Self-Driving Cars
Nariman Razaviarab
M.Sc. Alumni, Computer Science
Graduated: December 2019
Current Position: Ph.D. Student, Louisiana State University
Gerren Smith
B.Sc. Alumni, Computer Science
Graduated: 2019
Current Position: Associate Application Developer at ADP
Amber Johnese
B.Sc. Alumni, Computer Science
Graduated: 2019
Current Position: Digital Technology Scientist at Baker Hughes, GE company
Okunoye Adetayo
M.Sc. Alumni, Computer Science
Graduated: 2019
Current Position: Ph.D. Student, University of Georgia
Carlos Salazar
B.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2019
Research Area: Cyber-Attack Intrusion Systems Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Sasha Taruberekera
B.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2019
Research Area: Design of Cyber-Attack Defense Systems Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Julian Alvarez
B.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2019
Research Area: Application of Machine Learning for Designing Chatbots
Rason Irvin
B.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2019
Research Area: Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructures
Rayven Joubert
B.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2018
Research Area: Machine Learning Applications for Image Classification
Jalen Brook
B.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2018
Research Area: Cyber-Attack Defense Systems Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Azeema Sadath
M.Sc. Alumni
Graduated: Spring 2018
Research Area: Cybersecurity and Intrusion Detection in Water Infrastructures