Richelle Smith

BIOGRAPHY 

Richelle L. Smith is a Postdoctoral Scholar and Instructor in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. She received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering-Electrophysics from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2017, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2019 and 2024, respectively.

Her research interests include analog/mixed-signal circuit design and energy-efficient systems, with a focus on phase-domain communications and computing. Recent projects encompass oscillatory computing for combinatorial optimization, quantum computing emulation with oscillator circuits, brain-inspired/neuromorphic circuit design, as well as wireline transceivers and phase-domain/edge modulation signaling. 

She has acted as a technical consultant to Rambus Labs. She has held internship positions at Linear Technology, Rambus Labs, Stanford Brains in Silicon Lab, TDK-InvenSense, and Silicon Laboratories. She holds six U.S. patents. Dr. Smith serves as a reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems—Part I: Regular Papers, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems—Part II: Express Briefs, and IEEE Journal on Emerging and Selected Topics in Circuits and Systems.

Selected Awards

• Spotlight Paper, IEEE Journal on Emerging and Selected Topics in Circuits and Systems (JETCAS), 2024

• IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society (SSCS) Predoctoral Achievement Award, 2022–2023

• ARCS Foundation Northern California Fellowship (William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation Scholar), 2022–2024

• Cadence Women in Technology Scholarship, 2021

• Analog Devices Outstanding Student Designer Award, 2019

• Stanford Graduate Fellowship (Sang Samuel Wang Scholar), 2017–2022 

• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, 2017–2022 

• USC Discovery Scholar Prize, 2017

• Astronaut Scholarship, 2016

• Barry Goldwater Scholarship, 2016

• Tau Beta Pi Forge No. 42 Scholarship, 2015

• Rambus Innovator of the Future Scholarship, 2013

• USC Trustee Full Tuition Scholarship, 2013–2017

DISSERTATION 

Phase-Domain Circuits and Systems for Energy-Efficient Communications and Computing 

Richelle L. Smith, Stanford University, 2024.

doi: Stanford Digital Repository

My dissertation establishes phase-domain circuit techniques as a unified framework for energy-efficient communication and computation. It introduces differential edge modulation signaling (DEMS) for wireline links and designs a CMOS Potts machine that harnesses the collective dynamics of coupled multiphase oscillators to solve combinatorial optimization problems. It also develops modeling and simulation methodologies spanning neuromorphic circuits, injection-locked oscillators, and time-varying circuits. Together, these contributions bridge communication theory, integrated circuit design, and unconventional computing.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS 

I. Edge-Modulated Communications / Wireline Transceivers

1. Differential Edge Modulation Signaling for Low-Energy, High-Speed Wireline Communication,

Richelle L. Smith, Masum Hossain, Carl W. Werner, Joseph M. Kahn, and Thomas H. Lee, 

IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers, vol. 70, no. 8, pp. 3359–3372, Aug. 2023.

doi: 10.1109/TCSI.2023.3279231 

2. Differential Edge Modulated Signaling with Encoded Clock and Dynamic Data Rate Scaling,

Richelle L. Smith, Shakib Mahmood, Can Ni, Aurangozeb, Joohee Kim, Carl W. Werner, and Masum Hossain,

IEEE Solid-State Circuit Letters, Vol. 4, Mar. 2021.

doi: 10.1109/LSSC.2021.3069796 

3. Equalization and Coding Techniques for Edge Modulation Signaling,

Richelle L. Smith, Shakib Mahmood, Carl W. Werner, Thomas H. Lee, and Masum Hossain, 

IEEE Open Journal of Circuits and Systems, vol. 7, pp. 105-118, Feb. 2026. 

doi: 10.1109/OJCAS.2026.3661924

4. Equalization Techniques for Time Domain Signaling,

Shakib Mahmood, Parneet Tethy, Richelle L. Smith, Carl W. Werner, and Masum Hossain, 

IEEE Conference on Electrical Performance of Electronic Packaging and Systems (EPEPS), pp. 1–3, Oct. 2024.

doi: 10.1109/EPEPS61853.2024.10754249

II. Phase-Domain Oscillatory Computing / Potts Machine

5. Polychronous Oscillatory Cellular Neural Networks for Solving Graph Coloring Problems, 

Richelle L. Smith and Thomas H. Lee,

IEEE Open Journal of Circuits and Systems, vol. 4, pp. 156–164, March 2023.

doi: 10.1109/OJCAS.2023.3262204 

6. Computing Max 3-Cut With CMOS Tripolar Oscillatory Cellular Neural Networks,

Richelle L. Smith and Thomas H. Lee, 

IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, vol. 72, no. 12, pp. 2032-2036, Dec. 2025.

doi: 10.1109/TCSII.2025.3627078 

7. Analysis and Design of a Tetrahedral Oscillator,

Richelle L. Smith and Thomas H. Lee,

IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 75–79, Jan. 2022. 

doi: 10.1109/TCSII.2021.3097100 

8. Hybrid Frequency Domain Simulation Method to Speed-up Analysis of Injection Locked Oscillators,

Richelle L. Smith and Thomas H. Lee,

IEEE International Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems (MWSCAS), pp. 722–726, Aug. 2021.

doi: 10.1109/MWSCAS47672.2021.9531699

III. Quantum Computing Emulation Using Oscillators 

9. Quantum Computing Gate Emulation Using CMOS Oscillatory Cellular Neural Networks,

Richelle L. Smith and Thomas H. Lee, 

IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, vol. 71, no. 10, pp. 4541–4545, Oct. 2024.

doi: 10.1109/TCSII.2024.3397846

10. Shor’s Factoring Quantum Algorithm Emulation Using Polychronous CMOS Oscillators,

Richelle L. Smith and Thomas H. Lee, 

IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs,  vol. 73, no. 9, pp. 1006-1010, Sept. 2026.

doi: 10.1109/TCSII.2026.3718387

IV. Neuromorphic Circuits / Bio-Inspired Electronics for Biomedical Applications

11. Modeling of Injection Locking in Neurons for Neuromorphic and Biomedical Systems,

Richelle L. Smith and Thomas H. Lee, 

IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS), pp. 1–5, May 2021.

doi: 10.1109/ISCAS51556.2021.9401122 

12. A Low Thermal Sensitivity Subthreshold-Current to Pulse-Frequency Converter for Neuromorphic Chips, 

Ben V. Benjamin, Richelle L. Smith, and Kwabena A. Boahen, 

IEEE Journal on Emerging and Selected Topics in Circuits and Systems, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 956–964, Dec. 2023.

doi: 10.1109/JETCAS.2023.3321105

SPOTLIGHT Paper Award

13. An Analytical MOS Device Model With Mismatch and Temperature Variation for Subthreshold Circuits, 

Ben V. Benjamin, Richelle L. Smith, and Kwabena A. Boahen, 

IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, vol. 70, no. 6, pp. 1826–1830, June 2023.

doi: 10.1109/TCSII.2023.3234009 

V. Radio Frequency & Millimeter-Wave Integrated Circuits

14. Hybrid Analysis and Simulation Methodology for Noise in Active Mixers,

Richelle L. Smith and Thomas H. Lee, 

IEEE International Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems (MWSCAS), pp. 1–5, Aug. 2022.

doi: 10.1109/MWSCAS54063.2022.9859447

SELECTED PATENTS 

1. Clock and Multi-Valued Data Signaling. (US 12574200 B2),

C. W. Werner, M. Hossain, R. L. Smith,

Assignee: Rambus.

2. Phase Modulated Data Link for Low-Swing Wireline Applications, 2nd rev (US 11792057 B2),

M. Hossain, R. L. Smith, C. W. Werner,

Assignee: Rambus.

3. Phase Modulated Data Link for Low-Swing Wireline Applications, 1st rev. (US 11411787 B2),

M. Hossain, R. L. Smith, C. W. Werner,

Assignee: Rambus.

4. Phase Modulated Data Link for Low-Swing Wireline Applications, 1st pub. (US 11088880),

M. Hossain, R. L. Smith, C. W. Werner,

Assignee: Rambus.

5. Amplifier Circuit for Cryogenic Applications (US 10658987),

R. L. Smith, R. Vu, C. W. Werner,

Assignee: Rambus.

6. Implementing Process, Voltage, and/or Temperature-insensitive Resistance in Complementary Metal-oxide-semiconductors Using a Short-duty-clock Cycle (US 11050416B1),

J. Liu, M. He, R. Smith,

Assignee: InvenSense.

TEACHING

1. Co-Instructor, EE 314A: RF Integrated Circuit Design, Stanford University, Spring 2026

• Redesigned graduate-level course to expand RFIC coverage toward high-speed wireline circuits

• Delivered lectures on RF integrated circuits and wireline transceivers 

• Developed new course project based on PCIe 5.0 transceiver design

• Coordinated industry guest seminars & final project design contest with Apple engineers

SELECTED MEDIA & OUTREACH COVERAGE

1. Engineering Phenom Follows Footsteps of Female Researchers into Science

University of Southern California News, March 2018.  Featured on homepage of USC News as “Editors Pick.”  

Coverage of my research, outreach, efforts to promote women in STEM, and horse polo.  

2. Meet 3 Astronaut Scholars Who Are Pushing the Frontiers of Science

Trojan Family Magazine, Summer 2018. 

Coverage of my research and volunteering, aimed at a general audience.  

3. National Merit Scholarship Featured Scholar: Richelle L. Smith 

National Merit Scholarship Corporation 2016–17 Annual Report, March 2018. 

Coverage of my research, teaching, and volunteering activities, written for a broad audience.  Quoted on how scholarships can change lives, on webpage for potential donors.  Profiled on their website as “Featured Scholar.”

Last Updated: August 29, 2026