Stephen Michael Plaza's Website

Greetings!  This webpage is a portal to my professional and personal life.  My name is Stephen Plaza and I received a PhD in computer engineering from the University of Michigan in 2008.  I am currently living in Oregon (outside of Portland) and working for an EDA (electronic design automation) company called Synopsys. 

Research Interests:

Central belief: the importance of a diverse educational background

My current research focus is in the domain of computer chip optimization (logic and physical design) and heavily involves algorithms, software optimization, and parallel programming.  I have also worked extensively on Boolean Satisfiability.  I have exposure to quantum computation in an academic setting and am continually exploring such diverse fields as advanced mathematical optimization and genetic engineering.

I am currently developing a new web-based information utility, called the ClumpDump project.

Personal Interests:

My personal intersests are as varied as my professional and research ones.  I am an avid hockey, baseball, and football fan.  I play roller hockey every week and frequently practice yoga.  I enjoy reading any book and watching any movie that I can get my hands on.

I volunteer in several different capacities.  I help disperse information brochures and promote blood donation for the Red Cross. During the school year, I am involved in the Oregon SMART program where I help elementary students read.  Also, I teach advanced math for gifted public school students.