M.S. Computer Engineering · Drexel University · PhD Applicant
Vu Hoang (Gary) Pham
Computer-systems researcher working across hardware acceleration, quantum algorithms, and combinatorics. I like problems that live between theory and the metal — compiling nested loops into FPGA systolic arrays, proving structure in puzzle colorings, and amplitude-amplifying classical search.
- GPA 3.85Dean's List · Pennoni Honors
- 6 papersquantum + combinatorics
- 7.7×FPGA speedup (BLV grid)
- O(√N log N)quantum LMSR runtime
01 About
I'm a Master's student in Computer Engineering at Drexel University's College of Engineering (Pennoni Honors College), concentrating in computer systems & architecture and algorithms & data structures. I completed my B.S. in Computer Science at Drexel in 2025 with minors in Computer Engineering and Mathematics.
My research sits where silicon meets theory. Right now I'm building a compiler for FPGA nested-loop acceleration — turning dense linear-algebra kernels into high-utilization systolic arrays. Earlier I designed a quantum algorithm for lexicographically-minimum string rotation and ran it on IBM Quantum hardware, and most recently I've been writing a short series of combinatorics notes on adjacency-free colorings of the Rubik's cube.
I'm applying to PhD programs to keep working at this intersection. Alongside research I build production embedded systems — edge CV, DAQ pipelines, and firmware — which keeps my theory grounded in real hardware constraints.
02 Research
Three threads: hardware acceleration, quantum algorithms, and combinatorics. Each is backed by code, hardware runs, or written proofs.
Research collaborators & advisors
People I've worked with on the research above.
03 Publications & Writing
Click any entry to read the PDF or visit the project. Combinatorics notes are self-authored preprints; research projects link to their code and reports.
04 Experience
Engineering roles that fund and ground the research — mostly embedded systems, edge AI, and applied ML. Research remains the primary track; this is the backup if a PhD doesn't land.
05 Skills & Tools
Research / Theory
- Quantum (Qiskit)
- Combinatorics
- Algorithms
- HLS / RTL co-design
- Numerical Linear Algebra
Hardware / HDL
- VHDL
- SystemVerilog
- Vitis HLS
- AXI-Stream
- Xilinx Zynq / Zybo
- CUDA
Embedded
- C / C++
- ESP-IDF (ESP32-S3)
- FreeRTOS
- STM32
- Raspberry Pi
- RKNN / ESP-DL
ML / AI
- Python
- PyTorch
- ONNX / TensorRT
- YOLO · ByteTrack
- INT8 Quantization
Languages
- C/C++
- Python
- Rust
- Go
- Java
- Haskell
- Racket
- x86 Asm
Systems & Tools
- Linux
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- AWS
- Git
- CMake
- MQTT
06 Contact
Open to PhD opportunities, research collaborations, and hard hardware/software problems.
Philadelphia, PA · 267-455-3394