Computer Science

 

Welcome to the Department of Computer Science

 

In the Department of Computer Science at Tulane we emphasize both core computer science and its applications to related areas in the sciences and engineering, the health and social sciences, and the humanities. Our goal is for our faculty and students to be recognized nationally and internationally for their interdisciplinary research, and we want to train the next generation of computer scientists who work at the interface of computer science and other disciplines.

Students who have completed our undergraduate coordinate major have found jobs in computer science and related areas, and several are pursuing PhD degrees at leading departments. Our students and alumni have won awards including best paper awards and Tulane's Peery Medal, as well as fellowships including Facebook and Google PhD Fellowships and a postdoctoral CI Fellowship from the Computing Research Association.

Our faculty conduct cutting edge research in a variety of disciplines including algorithms, artificial intelligence, computational biology, computer science education, computational geometry and topology, computer vision, data science and large data processing, domain theory and semantics of programming languages, game theory, image processing, machine learning, natural language processing, networking, cloud computing optimization, privacy and security, and scientific visualization. Our research is nationally and internationally recognized, and is funded from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DARPA, and DoD.

Our department continues to grow and we anticipate hiring several faculty members over the coming years. Please check our open positions page frequently for updates.

We welcome inquiries - please email me at lpeng3@tulane.edu with your questions and comments.

Lu Peng, Interim Chair

Graphic announcing Tulane's Space Science & Engineering Minor coming Fall 2027.

Tulane Introduces New Space Science and Engineering Minor

 

An interdisciplinary program will connect science, engineering, computing, and human health while preparing students for opportunities across the rapidly growing space sector.

Tulane University students interested in exploring the science and technology behind humanity’s expanding presence in space will soon have a new academic pathway. The School of Science and Engineering has established an interdisciplinary Space Science and Engineering Minor that will draw upon courses and faculty expertise from across the school.

Photo of five colleagues gathered around a laptop in a conference room.

Tulane researchers hope AI will speed up the search for one of science's 'holy grails'

 

More than a century ago, a Dutch scientist named Heike Kamerlingh Onnes earned a Nobel Prize in physics by discovering the world's first “superconductor,” a material that can transfer electricity without heating up and losing energy.

Photograph of a diverse group of seventeen students posing outdoors on a pathway.

From California to Tulane, online computer science student brings AI education to life

High school teacher Robinne Ponty explores AI's role in education via Tulane's online MS in Computer Science, focusing on student control and responsible use.

Photo of a young adult with blonde hair and glasses wearing a light blue t-shirt, against a yellow background.

From Panama's Rainforests to America's Solar Farms: Clare Lister's Path Out of the Lab

Environmental biology grad Clare Lister moved from ecological research to solar energy, making a direct climate impact. She advises science grads on varied careers.

Hiker with backpack and trekking pole stands before a turquoise lake and misty mountains.

From Deep-Sea Corals to Alpine Dragonflies: Tulane SSE Welcomes Professor Jaymes Awbrey

Dr. Jaymes Awbrey joins Tulane as a Professor of Practice in Marine Biology, bringing deep-sea expertise and practical teaching methods.

A man with red glasses and gray hair sitting at a desk with a laptop.

Hank Ashbaugh Elected Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Dr. Hank Ashbaugh, Tulane's Chemical Engineering chair, was elected an AIChE Fellow for professional achievements and service to the organization.

Black and white photo of a man leaning on a desk in an office, with a whiteboard behind him.

Tulane researchers seek to advance cardiovascular disease prevention through artificial intelligence and community-based care

Tulane's Heartline initiative combines AI with community-based care to prevent cardiovascular disease and promote sustainable lifestyle changes.

Smiling woman with glasses and a black shirt in a laboratory setting.

How bats tolerate viruses: Tulane study sheds light on one of nature’s biggest immune mysteries

Tulane researchers discovered bats possess two distinct antibody gene copies, unlike other mammals, potentially explaining their viral tolerance.

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Welcoming Dr. Michelle Lacey as Chair of the Department of Mathematics

The Tulane University School of Science and Engineering (SSE) is celebrating a historic milestone with the appointment of Dr. Michelle Lacey as the new chair of the Department of Mathematics. A long-tenured and highly respected member of the Tulane faculty, Dr. Lacey steps into the role as both the first woman and the first statistician to chair the department, bringing a deeply collaborative, interdisciplinary, and democratic vision to mathematical sciences at Tulane. 

Scientist in a lab holds up a clear tray with multiple wells.

Bridging the Lab and the Classroom: Tulane Researcher Secures $1M NSF CAREER Award for Organ-on-a-Chip Innovation

For many, the idea of holding a living, functional human blood vessel network in the palm of your hand sounds like science fiction. But at Tulane University’s School of Science and Engineering (SSE), it is a daily reality that is driving the next generation of biomedical discovery.