LSU Center for Computation & Technology

2026 LSU CCT Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Cutting-edge computational research • World-class mentors • 10-week research program • Stipend and travel allowance • Housing included

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View projects and participants from previous years

About the LSU Center for Computation & Technology (CCT)

The LSU Center for Computation & Technology (CCT) is an interdisciplinary research center that advances computational and data-enabled science across campus. CCT faculty hold joint appointments in departments spanning the sciences, engineering, and humanities. Together, they provide high-performance computing resources, specialized technical expertise, and collaborative opportunities for cutting-edge research in fields such as artificial intelligence, astrophysics, coastal modeling, computational biology, computational chemistry, cybersecurity, digital media, materials science, and quantum computing.

Learn more at lsu.edu/cct

Why Join the LSU CCT Summer REU?

Spend ten intensive weeks working directly with nationally recognized leaders in computational science and high-performance computing—faculty who are shaping the future of AI, quantum computing, quantum materials, computational biology and chemistry, gravitation and astrophysics, and beyond.

You’ll tackle cutting-edge research projects using state-of-the-art supercomputers and advanced computational tools. A significant number of participants produce publishable research outcomes, and many of our alumni go on to prestigious graduate programs or secure research positions at national laboratories and leading technology companies.

Beyond the science, you’ll build a lifelong professional network: collaborate daily with LSU faculty, graduate-student mentors, and a talented cohort of peers from across the country. These relationships frequently lead to strong letters of recommendation, graduate-school acceptances, and future career opportunities.

$7000 stipend • Free on-campus housing • Travel allowance • Weekly professional-development workshops • Social events in Baton Rouge and New Orleans

Program Calendar 2026

February 1 Complete applications are due.
March 1 First-round acceptance notifications sent. Applications remain under consideration for later offers.
May 1 Participant-mentor matching finalized; travel arrangements should be completed.
May 25 First day of the 2026 program — arrive in Baton Rouge.
July 31 Summer Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) — poster presentations.

Dates are tentative and subject to minor adjustments.

2026 Projects & Faculty Mentors

All listed faculty hold joint appointments with the LSU Center for Computation & Technology (CCT) and their home departments.

Astrophysics

Prof. Peter Diener

Numerical relativity, black holes, and gravitational-wave simulations.

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Computational Biology

Prof. Michal Brylinski

Protein structure prediction and computational drug discovery.

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Computational Nanophotonics

Prof. Georgios Veronis

Plasmonics, metamaterials, and light-matter interactions at the nanoscale.

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Cybersecurity

Prof. Aisha Ali-Gombe

Malware analysis, memory forensics, and reverse engineering.

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Information Visualization

Prof. Seungwon Yang

Crisis informatics, social media analytics, and interactive visualization.

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Quantum Chemistry

Prof. Ken Lopata

Real-time time dependent density functional theory simulations of light-driven dynamics in molecules and materials.

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Quantum Computing

Prof. Ka-Ming Tam

Hybrid quantum-classical algorithms for simulating strongly correlated materials.

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Quantum Gravity & Cosmology

Prof. Parampreet Singh

Quantum gravity effects in the very early universe and black holes. Resolution of cosmological and black hole singularities.

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Quantum Materials

Prof. James Sauls

Quantum materials, superconductivity, and strongly correlated systems.

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Apply for Summer 2026

Applications are now open • $7000 stipend • Free on-campus housing • Travel allowance

Apply via NSF ETAP

Questions? Contact Ka-Ming Tam • kmtam@lsu.edu