Hi, I'm Ben!

I study high-performance computing.


Get in touch bdatsko@umich.edu

Background

I'm a PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan working with Dr. Michael P. Flynn in the Flynn Research Group. I earned my BSE in Computer Science and Engineering in May 2025 (also from U-M). My research focuses on Ising machines and other analog computing architectures that achieve 100-1000x energy efficiency over digital systems.

Skills
languages
  • C/C++
  • Python
  • Java
  • Assembly (RISC-V, ARM)
  • Verilog/SystemVerilog
software
  • MATLAB
  • LTSpice
  • Altium
  • AutoCAD
  • Cadence
design
  • PCB Layout
  • Circuits
  • Digital Systems
  • Analog Systems
  • System Architecture
Experience
Graduate Student Research Assistant
Undergraduate Student Research Assistant
May - Aug 2024
Model-Based Design Software Engineer Intern
Aug 2022 - May 2024
Race Strategy & Software
Aug 2021 - Aug 2022
Avionics Engineer
May - Aug 2021
Information Security Extern
Mar 2021 - Aug 2023
Head Swim Coach
Feb 2017 - Mar 2021
Java Content Creator for Minecraft Realms
Other Projects

Multi-chip analog and digital system for solving NP-hard optimization problems faster than CPUs. Implements problem decomposition algorithms and hardware-software interfaces for mapping complex constraints to oscillator networks. Developed in collaboration with NASA Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (QuAIL).

analog optimization hardware lowpower algorithm

Signal processing chip for 5G beamforming across 64 antenna elements. Achieves 1.4pJ/bit efficiency through distributed phase control and streaming interfaces. Reduces base station power consumption by 30x while maintaining mmWave link quality.

signal hardware lowpower

Real-time optimization tool for solar vehicle racing. Implements dynamic programming algorithms for route planning under stochastic weather and energy constraints. Processes telemetry streams to maximize average speed while maintaining power reserves.

optimization realtime webapp algorithm tool

AI-powered optimization tool for resume-job matching. Uses NLP to extract keywords and visualize application fit in 3D space. Implements TF-IDF algorithms to maximize ATS compatibility scores.

optimization visualization webapp ai tool

Data analysis platform processing 5000+ university courses. Visualizes workload distributions, grade trends, and enrollment patterns through interactive dashboards. Transforms scraped course data into actionable insights for academic planning.

analysis visualization webapp tool

Real-time typing performance analyzer with sub-millisecond keystroke timing. Measures WPM and accuracy against a curated corpus while providing instant visual feedback.

realtime webapp tool

Sentiment analysis system comparing mainstream and social media coverage. Uses Azure AI to quantify perception gaps between NYT articles and Reddit discussions on identical topics.

analysis webapp ai

Sub-10μV noise power controller for analog computing research. Real-time regulation via RTOS maintains stable voltages for oscillator-based computation. Essential infrastructure enabling low-power analog chip measurements.

hardware realtime lowpower tool

Interactive visualization tool for graph algorithms including Dijkstra, A*, BFS, and DFS. Animates pathfinding decisions in real-time on customizable grids. Used in Michigan CS courses for algorithm education.

visualization webapp algorithm tool

Official Minecraft adventures reaching 250K+ players. Implemented complex game logic through command block algorithms creating puzzles, state machines, and interactive narratives. Featured on Minecraft.net with 35M+ YouTube views.

algorithm

Real-time swimming pace trainer implementing official start sequence algorithms. Provides millisecond-accurate timing for race visualization and stroke rate synchronization.

realtime algorithm tool