Assistant Professor
Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
Gourav Datta’s journey began with an endless curiosity about technology.
“As a kid, I was always fascinated by how electronics could transform the world,” he said. “Every circuit, every algorithm was like a puzzle waiting to be solved.”
For Datta, engineering transformed his curiosity into innovation, showing him how designing solutions could actually change the world. His favorite part of being an engineer? The moment when a theoretical concept becomes a working prototype. That’s the moment that can make a real difference in people's lives.
With a focus on energy-efficient edge computing and intelligent neural networks, Datta hones in on in-sensor and neuromorphic computing, hardware-software co-design for computer vision and multi-modal AI workloads, and energy-efficient deep learning architectures and algorithms. In addition to teaching classes on these topics, Datta is also interested in teaching courses that provide the foundation to these topics, such as computer architecture, digital logic design and embedded systems.
In the fall, Datta plans to teach a new course—Hardware-Software Co-Design for TinyML Systems—that will enable students to design hardware-aware deep learning models and deploy them in edge devices.
What are you most looking forward to at Case Western Reserve University?
I believe the exceptional academic and research environment at Case Western Reserve University will provide me with the perfect setting to establish my independent research career, and I look forward to building an innovative and productive funded program here. I believe my experience and plans in next-generation computing, including neuromorphic and hardware-software co-design, complement the highly interdisciplinary ECSE department with strengths ranging from computer engineering to computational neuroscience and distributed robotics. The institute-wise research initiatives at Case Western Reserve University will also provide other interesting opportunities for collaborative and translational research, and I would be excited to be part of this community. Lastly, I am also eager to contribute to the academic community by mentoring students and guiding them as they navigate their own research journeys.
Do you have any personal goals, hobbies, family, interests that you would like to share?
I am passionate about soccer and love taking drives where I can enjoy the beauty of nature. I also have a deep interest in traveling to new places, exploring the unknown, and feeding my adventurous spirit. Above all, I am excited to work with motivated students and engage in thought-provoking intellectual discussions with them.
What’s one piece of advice you have for students? Or what’s a great piece of advice you’ve received?
One piece of advice I have for students is that they should embrace curiosity and never stop learning. In engineering, our greatest strength is not what we already know, but our ability to continuously explore, adapt, and solve problems creatively.