Zihao Chen

Zihao Chen

Ph.D. candidate

School of Microelectronics &
State Key Laboratory of Integrated Chips and Systems
Fudan University

E-mail: zihaochen17@fudan.edu.cn

“Exemplary persons👦 are not mere vessels🤖.” — Confucius👴

About

Zihao Chen received his B.E. degree in 2021 from the School of Microelectronics at Fudan University, where he is currently pursuing his Ph.D., expected to graduate in June 2026. His research focuses on large language models (LLMs), reinforcement learning (RL), and their applications in electronic design automation (EDA). He has published papers at leading EDA conferences such as DAC, DATE, ASPDAC, ISQED and ISEDA, and serves as a reviewer for IEEE TCAD and ACM TODAES. Currently, he is actively seeking opportunities in both academia and industry for exciting, exploratory work in AI × EDA.

Zihao believes in the mutual enrichment of teaching and learning. Since 2021, he has served as the TA for Prof. Fan Yang’s courses, including Basics of C Programming, Fundamentals of Digital Circuit Design Automation, and Design Automation of Electronic Systems Based on LLMs, establishing friendships with young guys. Besides, Zihao is imaginative and often brainstorms during sleepless nights. He is passionate about exploring the evolution of agents in open-world environments and LLM-driven literary research.

Zihao is always eager to connect with peers and is happy to offer help. Feel free to reach out to him via email for further contact.😄

Selected Papers

  • Zihao Chen, Zihan Lin, Xinhua Chen, Zhiyi Liu, Changxu Liu, Yifan Song, Yuxuan Qiao, Junjie Zuo, Yifei Feng, and Fan Yang, "Spec2Doc2RTL: RTL Generation from Specification with Natural Language Representation", International Symposium of Electronic Design Automation (ISEDA), 2025.
  • Zihao Chen, Jiangli Huang, Yiting Liu, Fan Yang, Li Shang, Dian Zhou, and Xuan Zeng, "Artisan: Automated Operational Amplifier Design via Domain-specific Large Language Model", Design Automation Conference (DAC), 2024.
  • Zihao Chen, Songlei Meng, Fan Yang, Li Shang, and Xuan Zeng, "MACRO: Multi-agent Reinforcement Learning-based Cross-layer Optimization of Operational Amplifier", Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference (ASPDAC), 2024.
  • Zihao Chen, Songlei Meng, Fan Yang, Li Shang, and Xuan Zeng, "TOTAL: Topology Optimization of Operational Amplifier via Reinforcement Learning", International Symposium on Quality Electronic Design (ISQED), 2023.
  • Zihao Chen, Fan Yang, Li Shang, and Xuan Zeng, "Automated and Agile Design of Layout Hotspot Detector via Neural Architecture Search", Design, Automation and Test in Europe (DATE), 2023.

Here are the links to my resumes in both English and Chinese:

Coming soon.

Teaching Services

  • Zihao serves as TA every semester. It is his pleasure to build friendships with EECS undergraduates. Below is an incomplete list of his teaching experience:

  • TA for Design Automation of Electronic Systems Based on Large Language Models (Instructor: Prof. Fan Yang)Spring of 2025
  • TA for Fundamentals of Digital Circuit Design Automation (Instructor: Prof. Fan Yang)Springs of 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
  • TA for Basics of C Programming (Instructor: Prof. Fan Yang)Autumns of 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • TA for Basics of Analog Circuits (Instructor: Prof. Liqing Tong)Spring of 2022
  • TA for Fundamentals of Computer Software (Instructor: Prof. Xuan Zeng)Spring of 2022

Academic Services

  • Reviewer, IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems (TCAD)Since 2025
  • Reviewer, ACM Transactions on Design Automation of Electronic Systems (TODAES)Since 2024

Other Activities

  • Instructor, Weekend & Finals Programming Tutorial for Undergraduates, Tengfei College, Fudan UniversityAutumns of 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Presenter, Regular Academic Exhibitions, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Chips and Systems, Fudan University Since 2024
  • Organizer, 1st LLM4EDA Summer School, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Chips and Systems, Fudan University2024

EDA Papers

  • Jinyi Shen, Zihao Chen, Ji Zhuang, Jiangli Huang, Fan Yang, Li Shang, Zhaori Bi, Changhao Yan, Dian Zhou, Xuan Zeng, "Atelier: An Automated Analog Circuit Design Framework via Multiple Large Language Model-based Agents", IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems (TCAD), 2025.
  • Zihao Chen, Zihan Lin, Xinhua Chen, Zhiyi Liu, Changxu Liu, Yifan Song, Yuxuan Qiao, Junjie Zuo, Yifei Feng, and Fan Yang, "Spec2Doc2RTL: RTL Generation from Specification with Natural Language Representation", International Symposium of Electronic Design Automation (ISEDA), 2025.
  • Zheng Wu, Zhuochu Yang, Zhuoyuan Yang, Zihao Chen, Li Shang, and Fan Yang, "ArchBot: A Labour-free Processor Architecture Design Framework via Experienced LLM", International Symposium of Electronic Design Automation (ISEDA), 2025.
  • Zihao Chen, Jiangli Huang, Yiting Liu, Fan Yang, Li Shang, Dian Zhou, and Xuan Zeng, "Artisan: Automated Operational Amplifier Design via Domain-specific Large Language Model", Design Automation Conference (DAC), 2024.
  • Zihao Chen, Songlei Meng, Fan Yang, Li Shang, and Xuan Zeng, "MACRO: Multi-agent Reinforcement Learning-based Cross-layer Optimization of Operational Amplifier", Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference (ASPDAC), 2024.
  • Zihao Chen, Songlei Meng, Fan Yang, Li Shang, and Xuan Zeng, "TOTAL: Topology Optimization of Operational Amplifier via Reinforcement Learning", International Symposium on Quality Electronic Design (ISQED), 2023.
  • Zihao Chen, Fan Yang, Li Shang, and Xuan Zeng, "Automated and Agile Design of Layout Hotspot Detector via Neural Architecture Search", Design, Automation and Test in Europe (DATE), 2023.
  • Zhengqi Gao, Zihao Chen, Jun Tao, Yangfeng Sun, Dian Zhou, and Xuan Zeng, "Bayesian Inference on Introduced General Region: An Efficient Parametric Yield Estimation Method for Integrated Circuits", Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference (ASPDAC), 2021.
  • Zheng Wu, Zhuochu Yang, Zhuoyuan Yang, Zihao Chen, Li Shang, and Fan Yang, "ChatArch: A Knowledge-based Graph-of-thought LLM Framework for Processor Architecture Design", IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems (TCAD), under review, 2025.

AI Papers

  • Coming soon.