Kidus Workneh
Kidus Workneh

Kidus Workneh

PhD Student · Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering · University of Colorado Boulder

Heterogeneous computing — language-level extensions, compiler optimizations, and hardware/software co-design to run programs efficiently and securely on emerging hardware.

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About

I am a PhD student in Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, specializing in heterogeneous computing. My research bridges language-level modifications, compiler optimizations, and hardware-software co-design to execute programs efficiently across emerging hardware architectures.

Specifically, I design heterogeneous-memory-aware C++ type extensions. As hardware grows more complex, diverse memory technologies are increasingly converging under a single paradigm. By modifying Clang/LLVM, I improve data locality, reliability and system security while simplifying the programming model—ultimately making it easier for developers to interface directly with the underlying hardware.

RolePhD Student & Graduate Research Assistant, ECEE (expected 2027)
FocusHeterogeneous computing · Compilers · Computer architecture · Secure memory
Emailkidus.workneh@colorado.edu
LocationBoulder, Colorado

Publications

  1. K. Workneh, G. Kaki, J. Izraelevitz. “A NUMA-aware Type Extension with Introspective Typing.” In Progress ACM SIGPLAN OOPSLA, 2026.
  2. A. Bellur, R. Alghamdi, K. Workneh, J. Izraelevitz. “Leroy: Library Learning for Imperative Programming Languages.” ACM SIGPLAN HATRA Workshop, 2024.
  3. S. Thomas, K. Workneh, J. McCarty, J. Izraelevitz, T. Lehman, I. Bahar. “A Midsummer Night’s Tree: Efficient and High Performance Secure SCM.” ACM ASPLOS, 2024.
  4. S. Thomas, K. Workneh, A. Ishimwe, Z. McKevitt, P. Curlin, I. Bahar, J. Izraelevitz, T. Lehman. “Baobab Merkle Tree for Efficient Secure Memory.” IEEE Computer Architecture Letters, 23(1):33–36, 2024.
  5. L. Biernacki, M. Demissie, K. Workneh, F. Andargie, T. Austin. “Sequestered Encryption: A Hardware Technique for Comprehensive Data Privacy.” IEEE SEED, 2022. pp. 73–84.
  6. L. Biernacki, M. Demissie, K. Workneh, G. Namomsa, P. Gebremedhin, F. Andargie, B. Reagen, T. Austin. “VIP-Bench: A Benchmark Suite for Evaluating Privacy-Enhanced Computation Frameworks.” IEEE SEED, 2021. pp. 139–149.
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Experience

Graduate Research Assistant Jan 2022 – Present
University of Colorado Boulder — ECEE
  • Designed NUMA-aware C++ type extensions using Linux APIs and a custom memory allocator for finer-grained thread and data locality.
  • Modified Clang template specialization to improve locality for programs on multi-socket machines (OOPSLA 2026, in progress).
  • Extending C++ types for secure memory placement via LLVM pointer alias analysis to reduce the trusted compute base.
  • Built a hardware/software co-design for crash-resilient secure NVM in gem5 (ASPLOS 2024); reduced encryption-metadata overhead via on-chip memoization (IEEE CAL 2024).
  • Developed a library-extraction tool for Python codebases (HATRA 2024).
Researcher Jun 2025 – Aug 2025
University of Colorado Boulder (Physics) & Cerfe Labs
  • Optimized current–voltage characterization workflows for CeRAM devices using Keithley instrumentation.
  • Refactored C code to apply burst pulse signals for memory-window characterization under stress conditions.
Research Intern May 2020 – Nov 2020
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Co-developed a privacy-enhanced architecture in gem5 that sequesters plaintext within a small CPU root of trust (IEEE SEED 2022).
  • Organized a benchmark suite for evaluating privacy-enhanced computation frameworks (IEEE SEED 2021).

Education

PhD, Electrical, Computer & Energy EngineeringCU Boulder · expected 2027
MSc, Electrical, Computer & Energy EngineeringCU Boulder · 2022–2023
BSc, Electrical & Computer EngineeringAddis Ababa University · 2016–2021

Skills & Tools

Languages CC++Pythonx86 Assembly
Compilers & Systems LLVMClanggem5Linux
Tools GitLaTeXGDB
Topics Type SystemsComputer ArchitectureSecure MemoryProgram Synthesis

Teaching & Service

Teaching Assistant & Mentor — University of Colorado Boulder
  • Led recitations for Computer Organization (ECEN 3593), Fall 2022.
  • Guest lecture on type theory for a graduate-level compiler construction course.
  • Mentored an undergraduate on row-hammer attacks in persistent memory (Discovery Learning Apprenticeship).
Program Committee
ACM/IEEE ISCA 2025 (Artifact Evaluator) · IEEE Micro 2025 (Reviewer)
Project Storm — Self-initiated non-profit
Mentorship program connecting Ethiopian undergraduates with industry professionals for coding and problem-solving training.