Physics of Information Processing and Machine Learning  Laboratory University of Hawaii at Mānoa

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Synopsis

We study the physics of information processing, with a focus on how fundamental physical limits can inform design principles for learning algorithms, and perhaps even reveal principles underlying learning and self-organization in living systems.

This provides a foundation for developing a new generation of information processing and machine learning algorithms, as well as for new computing hardware.

We also use machine learning to address scientific questions through data analysis, with a focus on problems of relevance to society, including financial risk, volcano prediction, and large scale scientific collaborations.

The lab is very diverse and interdisciplinary. Prospective students with aligned interests are encouraged to apply, even if they are in other disciplines. We work with students from many different departments, on Campus, and at other Universities.

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Current Members

Faculty:

Susanne Still (Director)

Lee Altenberg

PhD students:

Dorian Daimer (Physics)

• Information engines.
  - Partially Observable Szilard Engines
  - Thermodynamic Rationality
  - Quantum thermodynamics
  

• MSc (2012): Information theoretic clustering of astrobiology documents
• Currently CS faculty at Kapiolani Community College
  
• PhD project: Autonomous agents - exploration and self organized behavior.

Ka'imi Kahihikolo 

• P&A undergraduate researcher (with UARC scholarship), graduated 2019. Projects:
  
• cell growth analysis
• geothermal unrest data analysis

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Funding

• $115,000, FQXi and FFF Agency in the Physical World, Thermodynamics of Agency. PI: Susanne Still.
  
  
• $193,186, FQXi Intelligence in the physical world, Intelligence in Context, PIs: Lee Altenberg (ICS, UHM), Susanne Still, Chris Watkins (Royal Holloway, London).
  
  
• $633,293, FQXi Information as Fuel, Maxwell's demon in the real world, PI: John Bechhoefer, Simon Fraser University, co-PIs: David Sivak (SFU), Susanne Still.
  
  
• $30,000, John Templeton Foundation: The Quantum Information Structure of Spacetime (Phase 2, subaward). PI: Carlo Rovelli (U Marseille, Perimeter Institute, Western Ontario U).
  
  
• $661,000, NASA, ``A 30 Year, Multi-Sensor Analysis of Global Volcanic Thermal Unrest" (subaward). PI: Robert Wright (HIGP, UHM).

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Initiative: Thermodynamic Computing

Together with other groups, in the US and abroad, we are pursuing exploratory research into new technology to make computing more energy efficient.
Stay tuned!

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Former Members

• PhD Thesis: Physics of information in nonequilibrium systems.
  

Lane McIntosh, MSc Mathematics (2012). Now at Stanford.

• MSc Thesis: Information Processing and Energy Dissipation in Neurons

• MSc Thesis: Statistical learning in video games

Dr. Christopher Hamilton PhD Geophysics (2010). Affiliated group member, worked as lead on a cluster analysis of geophysical features. Now faculty at University of Arizona.

Post-doctoral researchers:

Jannik Ehrich (2020-2023, joint supervision with John Bechhoefer and David Sivak, Simon Fraser University)

Jenny Poulton (2020-2021, joint supervision with Chris Watkins, Royal Holloway, London)

Taku Ishikawa (2015-2017). National Printing Bureau, Japan.

• Project: Motion capture for movement analysis

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Affiliated former students:

Dr. Josef Bramante, Physics, UHM (2013), now faculty at Queens University, Canada.

Dr. Hunter Hatfield PhD Linguistics (2010). Affiliated group member, now faculty at the University of Otago, New Zealand.

Dr. Pardis Niknejadi, Physics, UHM (2016), now at DESY.

Dr. Jonathan Page, Economics, UHM (2016)

Dr. Sarah Marzen (UC Berkeley, visited 2013) now faculty at the Keck science center, Claremont, CA.

• Project: stochastic information thermodynamics

Dr. Chris Ellison (UC Davis, collaborated 2008-2009)

• Project: Optimally Predictive Causal Inference

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Lab rotation students

graduate

Sam Birns, ICS (2021-2022).

• Data Analysis of Global Volcanic Thermal Unrest (MODIS)

Carlos Silva, PhD student, ICS (2017-2019).

• Project: Applications of unsupervised learning to cyber-security.
  

Bocar Wane, MSc student Mathematics (2018-2019).

• Project: Automated Breast Cancer detection.
  

• Bill contributed to cluster analysis of geophysical features.

Victor Miagkikh, PhD Student, ICS (2010)

• Project: Limitations of HMMs and the Baum-Welch algorithm.
  

undergraduate

Spencer Long, (2019), Physics & Astronomy.

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  Publications

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Lab Meeting Regular meeting time for Fall 2023: If you are interested to learn more about what is going on in our lab, please send an email of come to a meeting.