The 3rd Workshop on Memristors in Barcelona, from 29-30 June 2026, was organized by the University of Barcelona and the workshop chairs were Prof. Dr. Albert Cirera and Prof. Dr. Blas Garrido.
Mar Puigibert from IHP – Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics presented part of the first year results of the project LEOMEM. In that, she studied how the Total Ionizing Dose effects, caused by the X-ray irradiation, affects the 1T1R arrays, which are radiation-hardened-by-design because the standard nMOS transistor has been replaced with an Enlosed Layout Transistor (ELT).
The DFG Priority Program MemrisTec (SPP 2262) — “Memristive Devices Toward Smart Technical Systems,” has awarded Dr. Onur Toprak a MemrisTec Young Researcher Award for the Best Publication. The award recognizes Dr. Toprak’s exceptional contribution to the field of memristive devices and reinforces his standing as one of the program’s rising stars.
This honor adds to an already remarkable period in Dr. Toprak’s career. As a MemrisTec PhD student supervised by Prof. Dr. Catherine Dubourdieu at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), he successfully defended his doctoral thesis at TU Berlin, achieving the outstanding grade of 1.0 (Magna cum Laude) — a distinction reflecting the excellence of his research within the MEMMEA project of the MemrisTec Priority Program.
The development of an amorphous Gallium-oxide (a-GaOx) based memristive device that operates via a non-filamentary switching mechanism, distinguishing it from conventional filamentary memristors that often suffer from stochastic variability.
Demonstration of highly repeatable multiple resistance states, a critical property for enabling multi-level memory storage and analog computing applications such as neuromorphic systems.
A detailed analysis of the underlying interface-type switching behavior, providing valuable insight into how oxygen vacancy redistribution governs the smooth and reliable modulation of resistance.
Strong endurance and retention characteristics, positioning the device as a promising candidate for next-generation in-memory and brain-inspired computing architectures.
The MemrisTec Priority Program aims to advance memristive technologies toward smart technical systems. Dr. Toprak’s award-winning contribution exemplifies the program’s mission — bridging fundamental materials science with practical, application-oriented device engineering.
Congratulations to Dr. Onur Toprak on this well-deserved recognition! All the best for your future!
We are delighted to announce that Daniel Schön has been honored with a MemrisTec Young Researcher Award for Best Publication, presented by the DFG Priority Program MemrisTec (SPP 2262) — “Memristive Devices Toward Smart Technical Systems”. The award recognizes his outstanding contribution to the field of memristive devices and underscores his role as one of the program’s rising talents.
The work investigates how thermal effects influence the switching behavior of valence change memory (VCM) cells in highly integrated crossbar arrays. Using a finite element model coupled with a verified compact model of a VCM cell, the authors reveal that spatio-temporal thermal correlations can occur and significantly affect the resistive state of adjacent cells.
Key findings from the publication include:
Thermal crosstalk: Heat generated in an active memristive cell propagates along the electrodes and can influence the resistance state of neighboring devices — an effect particularly relevant for device spacings of just a few hundred nanometers.
Thermal accumulation effect: Due to the thermal capacitance of a VCM cell, the device can remain thermally active after a pulse, thereby influencing the temperature conditions of subsequent pulses. This allows temperature to act as a second state variable alongside conductance.
Spatio-temporal correlations: When pulse spacings approach the thermal time constant of the device (a few nanoseconds), thermal crosstalk and accumulation combine — opening up new possibilities for neuromorphic computing, including emulation of short-term plasticity and paired-pulse facilitation.
As the authors conclude, “spatio-temporal thermal correlations can be observed for device spacings as small as a few hundred nanometers and pulse trains with pauses in the order of the thermal time constant of the memristive device. Based on this effect, novel learning rules can potentially be derived for future neuromorphic computing applications”.
The publication was a great ignition into the authors’ MemrisTec project MemCouple which explores the topic on various levels: from device fabrication via simulation models to the application of neuromorphic computing concepts. Furthermore, another collaboration with Faisal Munir and Stefan Wiefels lead the a publication showing how temperature can be used as a second state variable and how ultra-short pulse trains can be used to emulate short-term plasticity in RRAM devices. This functional behaviour can be at some point exploited to develop novel brain-like computer architectures that operate in the sub-nanosecond range.
This award is a wonderful recognition of Daniel Schön’s dedication, scientific rigor, and creativity — and a great example of how the MemrisTec Priority Program advances both fundamental understanding and application-oriented innovation in memristive technologies. Congratulations on this well-deserved milestone, Daniel Schön, and all the best for your future! 🎉
Science knows no gender, and we believe that diverse perspectives are essential to driving innovation and solving the world’s most pressing challenges. MemrisTec is dedicated to create opportunities for scientists from all genders to explore, learn and shape the future of computing.
💡 To all the young women out there dreaming of careers in STEAM: You belong in science, and your contributions will shape the world.
Let’s work together to ensure that every girl knows she can be a scientist, an innovator, and a leader in her field. 🌱✨
Rana Walied Ahmad, M.Sc., successfully concluded his public doctoral defense on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, at RWTH Aachen University. The defense was held as a hybrid event.
The doctoral lecture, titled “Modeling and Simulation of Electrochemical Metallization Memory Cells for Neuromorphic Passive Crossbar Architecture,” addressed the modeling and simulation of electrochemical metallization memory cells, with a focus on their role in neuromorphic computing using passive crossbar architectures. This doctoral work originated from the MEMMEA project.
The successful completion of the defense marks the culmination of Rana Walied Ahmad’s doctoral research in the field of memristive devices and neuromorphic systems.
Emilio Perez-Bosch Quesada has completed his doctorate within the MIMEC framework in collaboration with IHP – Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics in Frankfurt (Oder). His doctoral research focused on HfO₂-based memristive devices, contributing to ongoing work on resistive memory technologies.
The research was carried out as part of the RRAM activities at IHP under the supervision of Eduardo Pérez Diez and Christian Wenger. During his doctoral studies, he worked closely with interdisciplinary teams and gained extensive experience in materials research and device characterization.
Following the successful completion of his doctorate, Emilio Perez-Bosch Quesada plans to continue his academic career in the field of memristors, further advancing research in this area.
We are delighted to announce that Onur Toprak, a MemrisTec PhD student at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), has successfully defended his doctoral work on Friday, November 14th, at TU Berlin.
He achieved the outstanding grade of 1.0 (Magna cum Laude), a remarkable recognition of his research excellence.
This achievement marks a significant milestone and a proud outcome of the MemrisTec Priority Program (SPP) through the MEMMEA project. Congratulations to Onur for this well-deserved success!
The MemrisTec consortium is proud to announce that Cuo Wu, a researcher within the NeuroMCross project, has been awarded one of the Best Poster Awards at the MEMRISYS 2025 conference, held this year in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Supervised by Benjamin Max and Prof. Thomas Mikolajick, Cuo’s work focuses on advancing neuromorphic computing through innovative memristive device concepts — a central topic within the MemrisTec research programme. His poster attracted strong interest from both academic and industrial participants, standing out for its scientific depth and potential technological relevance.
MEMRISYS is a renowned international conference dedicated to emerging memory technologies and their applications in artificial intelligence and neuromorphic systems. The recognition of Cuo’s contribution underscores the growing impact of MemrisTec research in shaping the future of energy-efficient computing.
Congratulations to Cuo Wu on this well-deserved success and for showcasing the excellence of MemrisTec research on a global platform.
The MemrisTec Summer School 2025 was successfully conducted in Sevilla, Spain, from 24 September to 3 October 2025, marking another milestone in the training and networking activities of the MemrisTec Research Unit. The event brought together early-career researchers, doctoral candidates, and leading scientists from partner institutions to explore the latest developments in memristive systems and neuromorphic electronics.
The comprehensive program combined keynote lectures, advanced tutorials, and hands-on laboratory sessions, covering topics ranging from molecular materials and device fabrication to computational modeling and circuit integration. Participants also had the opportunity to present their own research during poster sessions, fostering scientific dialogue and collaboration within the MemrisTec community.
Beyond the scientific sessions, the Summer School featured social and cultural activities in and around Sevilla, providing an excellent setting for networking and informal exchange among participants. The event once again demonstrated MemrisTec’s commitment to supporting interdisciplinary education and strengthening international collaboration in the field of memristive technologies.
Stefan Pechmann has successfully completed his PhD in Electrical Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). His doctoral defense took place a few weeks ago and concluded with the highest distinction, summa cum laude.
The dissertation, entitled “Integration of Multi-Level 1T1R RRAM Cells as Embedded Memory,” addresses key challenges in the integration of resistive random-access memory (RRAM) technologies for embedded applications. The work was carried out within the MIMEC environment at TUM and in close collaboration with the RRAM research group at IHP, contributing to ongoing efforts in advanced memory technologies.
The PhD project was supervised by Prof. Amelie Hagelauer and supported by an interdisciplinary examination committee. Over the course of his doctoral research, Stefan Pechmann worked on multi-level RRAM device concepts, combining system integration aspects with experimental and technological investigations.
Following the completion of his doctorate, Stefan Pechmann has transitioned to industry and has taken up a position as Hardware Developer at ZEISS Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, joining via MCA Germany.
The MemrisTec community acknowledges this academic milestone and extends its best wishes for his continued professional career.
