Spiking neural networks
& dynamical systems
Bio-inspired neuron models, neural dynamics, and phase encoding for pattern recognition and time-series analysis.
Related journal articles →University of Regina · Canada
Lei ZhangResearch at the intersection
of neural dynamics & hardware.
Associate Professor
Electronic Systems Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
I study spiking neural networks, finite-precision computation, and FPGA-based systems, connecting mathematical models with hardware-oriented design.
Regina, Saskatchewan
About
From models to
electronic systems.
I am an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Regina. I started my academic career at the University of Regina in November 2013.
Before joining the University, I worked at TWI in Cambridge, UK (2006–2012), as an Electronic Design Engineer and Project Leader on guided-wave ultrasonic testing, and at Cambridge Technology Group (2013), as a Consultant and Senior Hardware Engineer working with boundary-scan testing and FPGA programming.
I am passionate about teaching and research. I enjoy life-long learning and personal development.
Research
Three connected directions.
Neural models, numerical behaviour,
and the systems that implement them.
Spiking neural networks
Integer states
& quantized dynamics
How finite resolution and fixed-point arithmetic affect nonlinear dynamics and spiking neural models, with implications for hardware-oriented design.
Recent work on quantization →FPGA systems
& hardware-oriented AI
FPGA architectures, model implementation, and hardware acceleration, informed by experience in ultrasonic inspection and boundary-scan testing.
Related conference papers →Selected publications
Recent & representative work.
Resolution-Induced Collapse in Quantized Nonlinear Dynamics: A Finite-Horizon Structural Framework
Electronics, 15(15), 3364 · 2026
doi: 10.3390/electronics15153364System-level FPGA validation of a trainable and robust multiplier-free spiking neural network
iScience, 29(6), 115985 · 2026
doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115985Integer-State Dynamics in Quantized Spiking Neural Networks: Implications for Hardware-Oriented Design
Electronics, 15(8), 1756 · 2026
doi: 10.3390/electronics15081756Hardware-Aware Training of Spiking Neural Networks: A Fixed-Point DFT-LMS Co-Design for FPGA Acceleration
2026 7th International Conference on Computing, Networks and Internet of Things (CNIOT), 1-5 · 2026
doi: 10.1109/CNIOT69547.2026.11582400FPGA Implementation of Complex-Valued Neural Network for Polar-Represented Image Classification
Sensors, 24(3), 897 · 2024
doi: 10.3390/s24030897
Teaching
Courses taught.
Digital design, embedded systems,
and neural computation.
Past teaching experience.
Consult the University timetable for current offerings.
- ENEL 384
- Digital Electronics
- ENEL 351
- Microcontroller System Design
- ENEL 453 / 789
- FPGA Design Using VHDL
- ENEL 864
- FPGA Applications
- ENEL 867
- Dynamical Systems Analysis for Spiking Neural Models
- ENEL 890AP
- Dynamical Systems in Neuroscience
Prospective students
Interested in exploring
these research questions?
I welcome enquiries about research alignment in spiking neural networks, numerical models, and FPGA systems.
Discuss research interestsA useful starting point
Describe the research question that interests you and how it connects to my work. Relevant preparation may include digital logic and VHDL, signal processing, numerical methods, or machine learning.
What to include
Send a short introduction, a concise CV, and links to relevant projects or publications. Please do not send sensitive personal documents in an initial enquiry.
An enquiry does not guarantee an opening, funding, supervision, or admission. Graduate applications follow the University’s formal process.
Graduate studies & application information ↗Contact
Let’s talk research.
Lei.Zhang@uregina.caResearch enquiries · Academic collaboration · Student projects
Electronic Systems Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Regina
3737 Wascana Parkway
Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
Office: ED 436.8
Phone: +1 306 337 2588