Fazil Onuralp ARDIC
Electrical Engineering Major &
Neuroscience Minor @ UCLA
Welcome to my engineering portfolio! My name is Fazil Onuralp and I am a fourth year electrical engineering student with a neuroscience minor. I am passionate about using technology to tackle real-world problems. This portfolio showcases my experiences in research, coursework, and extracurricular activities.
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Below you can find photographs from my experiences divided year by year:
2024
Retinal Circuits Lab @ UCLA
Los Angeles, Cal.
2024 - Present
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Built a code pipeline taking in spike sorted Micro Electrode Array (MEA) recordings to train a bio-inspired CNN
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Increased training speed of the CNN 5x using Keras 3 with JAX backend
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Explored novel CNN architectures with 3D convolutions, adaptive activation functions and transfer learning
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Performed data visualization with activation maximization, layer-wise kernel inspection
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Ozcan Research Lab @ UCLA
Los Angeles, Cal.
2023 - Present
- Transformed PyTorch and TensorFlow code training neural network into faster paradigm JAX with algorithm improvements
- Enhanced Diffractive Deep Neural Network (D2NN) algorithm was 6.1x faster than TensorFlow, 4.6x faster than PyTorch
- Implemented various Diffractive Deep Neural Network (D2NN) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures
- Presented project poster at HHMI Day 2023, won best oral presentation and best project awards
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Presented published research at National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2024
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2023
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Neurostatistics Research Group @ MIT
Boston, Mas.
Summer 2023
- Established a code-flow for training various machine learning models (GB,MLP, Logistic Regression) using Scikit-Learn Library.
- Performed time, frequency, and time-frequency signal analysis on EEG Waveforms
- Created Convolutional Neural Network Architectures using JAX and PyTorch for classification tasks
- Gave a 1.5hr presentation about project to lab group comprising of 70 slides with original figures made using Adobe Illustrator
Lab Teaching Assistant for ECE Department @ UCLA
Los Angeles, Cal.
2023 - 2024
- Invited by the Dr. Briggs to assist students taking ECE 3 Introduction to Electrical Engineering Course
- Guided students in using oscilloscopes, writing code in C, building circuits, performing analysis using Analog Discovery 2
- Suggested sensor fusion designs and possible PID control system implementations using Arduino IDE for final project
Crux @ UCLA
Los Angeles, Cal.
2022 - 2023
- Led a team of 14 people in a design project where a multilayer perceptron (MLP) was used to measure stress level based on EEGs
- Deployed a kNN Classifier using Scikit-Learn for an emotion recognition task differentiating EEG data
- Presented research poster in 1st California Neurotech Conference to students from various universities and industry experts
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ENGINEERING PROJECT
2022
ENGINEERING PROJECT
IEEE @ UCLA
Los Angeles, Cal.
2022-2023
- Placed in top 10 for IDEA Hacks 2022 by building a smart trash can named "Bruinbin" in 36hrs. Utilized magnetic proximity sensors Github: https://github.com/ebtesam25/ideahacks2022.git
- Designed a "Micromouse" robot to navigate a random maze in shortest time using a STM32 ARM Cortex Microcontroller
Communications Lead for ETC @ UCLA
Los Angeles, Cal.
2022 - 2023
- Organized events and interacted with engineering transfer student community of 516 people
- Designed Celebrate eTransfers commencement website honoring graduating class of ~200 students with Wix
- Authored the Engineering Transfer Center's weekly newsletter sent to all engineering transfer students
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Engineering 96: Autonomous Rover @ UCLA
Los Angeles, Cal.
Winter 2022
- Designed and built an autonomous rover that navigates through a previously unknown obstacle course.
- Chassis was custom made and the device was controlled through an Arduino
ENGINEERING PROJECT
2021
ENGINEERING PROJECT
Cost Effective Reverse Vending Machine
Istanbul, Turkey
2018-2021
- Devised a cheaper than market reverse vending machine with a team of 3 people. Design used computer vision and weight sensing
- Developed a 3D CAD design in Onshape. Pitched to a jury of angel investors in Ulus Bootcamp Startup Challenge, winning 1st prize
- Built a physical prototype. Utilized Raspberry Pi 4 to integrate Stepper Motors, Touch Screen, Camera, Led Lamps, Load Cells
Joy of Sharing Science @ Uskudar American Academy
Istanbul, Turkey
2020 - 2021
- Gathered and managed 30-member team of writers to found a weekly science magazine, www.joyofsharingscience.com
- Published 40 issues with biology/physics/chemistry sections online during management. Website received 318 unique visitors
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Physics Extended Essay for IB Senior Thesis
Istanbul, Turkey
2020 - 2021
- Expanded existing mathematical models from previous papers with rotational dynamics
- Wrote ~500 lines of Python code to solve a coupled system of nonlinear ODEs using 4th order Runge Kutta method
- Devised experimental apparatus utilizing pneumatics and DC Motors. Performed experiment and analyzed results using LoggerPro
ENGINEERING PROJECT
CERN Beam Line For Schools (BL4S) Competition
Istanbul, Turkey
2020 - 2021
- Formed a 10-member team named Gamma Busters for the Beamline for Schools Competition
- Guided team to prepare 13-page written proposal and video proposal.
- Out of 198 proposals from 47 countries, Gamma Busters got shortlisted with 22 other teams. Won a Cosmic-pi detector
ENGINEERING PROJECT
Miscellaneous
EDUCATION
University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
GPA 4.0/4.0
Deans Honor List
ECE Fast Track to Success
Honor societies TBP and IEEE-HKN
2021 - Present
Los Angeles, CA
University of California, Los Angeles
Minor in Neuroscience
2021 - Present
Los Angeles, CA
Uskudar American Academy
Bilingual International Baccalaureate
3rd in the Class of 2021
GPA 97.49/100
IB Diploma Program 44/45
2016 - 2021
Istanbul, Turkey
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Programming Languages: Python, MATLAB, C++
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Machine Learning: PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, Scikit-Learn
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Microprocessors: Arduino, Raspberry Pi
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Circuits: Soldering, Oscilloscope, Analog Discovery 2
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Visual Design: Adobe Illustrator, Wix
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Computer-Aided Design: Onshape, CAD
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Languages: Turkish (Native), English (Advanced, IELTS 8), German (Intermediate, TELC B1)
HONORS & AWARDS
Merit Scholarship of 30,000$/yr for four years | Defne Muhtar Kent Educational | 2021 - 2025
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1st Place in Media & Entertainment track at Cerebral Beach Hacks | 2025
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ECE Fast Track Program | 2023 - 2025
Best Oral Presentation | Howard Hughes Medical Institute | 2023
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Best Project | Howard Hughes Medical Institute | 2023
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Tau Beta Pi (TBP) Honor Society Induction | UCLA | 2022
IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN) Honor Society Induction | UCLA | 2022
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1st Prize in Entrepreneurship Competition | Ulus Jewish Schools Foundation | 2021
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Dr. Virginia Canfield Award For Overall Excellence | Uskudar American Academy | 2021
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Departmental Awards in Math, English, and Social Sciences | Uskudar American Academy | 2021
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National Honor Society (NHS) Induction | Uskudar American Academy | 2021
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National English Honor Society (NEHS) Induction | Uskudar American Academy | 2021
PUBLICATIONS
All-optical image denoising using a diffractive visual processor
Işıl, Ç., Gan, T., Ardic, F. O., Mentesoglu, K., Digani, J., Karaca, H., Chen, H., Li, J., Mengu, D., Jarrahi, M., Akşit, K., Ozcan, A
Light, science & applications, 2024; 13(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-024-01385-6
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Unidirectional imaging with partially coherent light
Ma, G., Shen, C., Li, J., Huang L., Isil, Cagatay., Ardic, F. O., Yang, X., Li, Y., Wang, Y., Rahman M. S. S. , Ozcan, A.
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Advanced Photonics Nexus 3.6 (2024): 066008-066008. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.APN.3.6.066008
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CONTACT
Phone
+1 310 597 0023 (U.S)
+90 543 670 9533 (Turkey)