Stephen Michael Plaza, PhD

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.  After spending some time in electronic design automation for silicon optimization, my current research focus is in bioinformatics and neural connectivity at Howard Hughes Medical Institute outside of Washington D.C. 

Research Interests:

Central belief: the importance of a diverse educational background

I am currently interested in applying my software and optimization background into facilitating the analysis of neural connectivity.

Past and ongoing research includes 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 bio-engineering.

If time allows (though it rarely does), I plan to deploy several web-based and device applications.  Stay tuned!!

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 have volunteered in several different capacities.  I have helped disperse information brochures and promote blood donation for the Red Cross.  I was involved in the Oregon SMART program where I help elementary students read.  Also, I have taught advanced math for gifted public school students.  Regrettably, with my recent move and field change, I have not had as much time to  volunteer in the last year (except a little at my local church).