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
From Tulane to NVIDIA GTC: Stepping Into the Future of AI
Michael Weild, a member of Tulane’s Class of 2026, arrived at Tulane planning to study finance, following a path that felt both familiar and expected. His direction shifted during his early years on campus, as a combination of personal challenges and changing circumstances forced him to think more critically about what his education needed to deliver.
“At some point, it stopped being about just being here,” he said. “It became about return on investment.”
Green Wave swimmer plans to bring her passion for community to medicine
For Andrea Zeebe, being an athlete on the Green Wave Swimming and Diving team is inextricably linked to her success as a Tulane student.
“Swimming has made me a better student,” said Zeebe, who is graduating with a degree in neuroscience from the School of Science and Engineering.
Being a student-athlete required her to manage her time, maintain focus and represent herself and her teammates in front of groups of people - all skills that have helped her excel in academics.
2026 SSE Awards Highlight the People Driving Impact Across Science and Engineering
On a wonderful evening inside the Glazer Family Club at Yulman Stadium, more than 170 members of the Tulane SSE community gathered to recognize the people shaping the future of science and engineering.
Faculty, staff, alumni, students, and partners filled the room for the 2026 School of Science and Engineering Awards Celebration, an annual event that reflects both the breadth of the school and the impact of its work. Throughout the evening, 21 awardees were recognized for achievements spanning research, teaching, mentorship, innovation, and community engagement.
Care for community at the center of neuroscience grad’s leadership
Paresh Kolluru didn’t come to Tulane intending to be a student leader, but his care for his community made him one, anyway. Kolluru, a Tulane 34 recipient and Lafayette native who is graduating with a major in neuroscience from the School of Science and Engineering and a minor in philosophy from the School of Liberal Arts, moved into Wall Residential Hall his first year with another Louisianian and an international student as his roommates. They were all in a new environment, away from home for the first time, and they all wanted to find a community.
From New Orleans to the Rainforest: Tulane Students Build Scalable Environmental Sensor Network
In a city where water shapes everything from infrastructure to risk, understanding what is happening beneath the surface has never been more important. Across several New Orleans cemeteries, a network of sensors is now collecting real-time data on soil moisture, temperature, and environmental conditions, with implications that extend far beyond the city.
What makes this effort stand out is not just the technology. It is how it has evolved, and where it is headed.
The Final Frontier in the Crescent City: The Rise of The Tulane Rocketry Association
Tulane students created a rocketry club, aiming to build an aerospace program and achieve high-power launches despite lack of formal programs.
Dr. Keena Kareem Honored for Teaching Excellence and Curricular Innovation
Dr. Keena Kareem, Professor of Practice in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, has been awarded the Duren Professorship Seed Grant and the School of Science and Engineering Early Achievement in Teaching Award, recognizing her exceptional contributions to Tulane's academic mission.
Teaching Excellence
EENS Alumni Spotlight: Anabel Kadri (BS 2025)
Where has your degree taken you?
Since graduating from Tulane, I worked as a Field Technician with Mass Audubon where I supported a large-scale salt marsh restoration project across 1,450 acres of the Great Marsh. My work primarily focused on ditch remediation to restore the marsh’s natural hydrology and improve habitat for the Saltmarsh Sparrow. Since finishing that position, I am now a Program Assistant for the Restoration Team at the Chesapeake Bay Trust, where I assist with grant management for restoration projects across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Turning Seconds into Safety: Tulane Students Build Automated System to Strengthen Airport Explosive Detection
In airports across the country, security decisions are often made in seconds. When a bag is flagged for further inspection, Transportation Security Administration officers move to a secondary screening process that can determine whether a substance poses a real threat. That process, however, still relies heavily on manual chemical testing and human interpretation.
A team of Tulane University engineering physics students, Mia Stolakis, Kyler Silas, Jude Kelley, Avery Lahm, and Matheo Graham Capasso saw an opportunity to change that.
