This Project Grant award for $200,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) supports research by Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) to develop hardware-constraint-aware design and optimization techniques for memristor-crossbar-array (MCA) based neural network accelerators. The research aims to bridge the gap between software design tools and the physical limitations of MCA hardware, enabling more efficient and cost-effective development of MCA-based computing solutions. Key objectives include modeling device and circuit constraints, integrating them into software design tools, developing an aligned hardware architecture, and creating transformation tools for rapid prototyping. The outcomes are expected to significantly advance the design and commercialization of MCA technology across industries leveraging neuromorphic computing. No subawards are planned under this grant, which has an award period from July 2024 to June 2026.