University of Texas at Austin

Latest Happenings at the Oden Institute

News

May 14, 2026

Celebrating the Class of 2026: Oden Institute Honors CSEM Graduates

The Class of 2026 was celebrated during a reception held at the Oden Institute on May 8.

Oden Institute Ph.D. graduates: Front (l-r): Youguang Chen, Zheyu Wen, Julie Pham, Yiran Shen, Ally Richardson, Mathew Hu. Back (l-r): Frimpong Baidoo, Graham Pash, Ivana Escobar, Casey Stowers, Yifan Zhang (not all graduates are pictured).

Oden Institute Ph.D. graduates: Front (l-r): Youguang Chen, Zheyu Wen, Julie Pham, Yiran Shen, Ally Richardson, Mathew Hu. Back (l-r): Frimpong Baidoo, Graham Pash, Ivana Escobar, Casey Stowers, Yifan Zhang (not all graduates are pictured).

News

May 14, 2026

Inaugural Graduates of Integrated Computational Engineering Program Launch Startup Together

Antonio Jimenez and Atharva Kalamkar, the first graduates of the new 5-year Integrated Computational Engineering BS/MS program, are already making an impact beyond UT with a project that grew out of their coursework. 

Pictured from l-r: David Fridovich-Keil with graduates Antonio Jimenez and Atharva Kalamkar.

Pictured from l-r: David Fridovich-Keil with graduates Antonio Jimenez and Atharva Kalamkar.

News

May 13, 2026

Seeing the Possibilities: High School Students Step into Oden Institute Research World

Students from the Liberal Arts and Science Academy got a front row seat to current research on topics including cancer, the cosmos, digital twins, robotics, and ocean systems during a field trip to the Oden Institute.

Oden Institute Director Karen Willcox with students from LASA. Credit: Joanne Foote/Oden Institute

Oden Institute Director Karen Willcox with students from LASA. Credit: Joanne Foote/Oden Institute

Feature

April 14, 2026

Ufuk Topcu. Credit: Joanne Foote/Oden Institute

Ufuk Topcu on the Future of Trustworthy Autonomy

Ufuk Topcu leads the Center for Autonomy, which focuses on human interaction with AI and robotics, expanding community outreach and pioneering new concepts in safety, trustworthiness and accountability as autonomous systems evolve.

Feature

Nov. 19, 2025

CosmicAI Institute Tackles Universe’s Deepest Mysteries

Astronomy is an excellent sandbox to develop AI techniques in a safe and open way. The NSF-Simon's CosmicAI Institute at UT's Oden Institute is an incubator for innovation and developing trust in AI to help researchers make new discoveries about the universe. 

Feature

Oct. 16, 2025

Predictive modeling can show how a patient will respond to treatment. Image: Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences

New Technology, Data Drive Advancements in Breast Cancer Care

UT Austin researchers, in partnership with MD Anderson and Dell Medical School, are advancing breast cancer care through predictive modeling, protein-based therapies, 3D reconstruction tools, and large-scale data resources. These innovations aim to make treatments more precise, accessible, and patient-centered.

News

May 12, 2026

2026 Rising Stars Workshop Supports Next Generation of Computational and Data Science Leaders

Early-career researchers gathered at the seventh annual Rising Stars in Computational & Data Sciences Workshop, a two-day conference held this year at the Santa Fe Institute (SFI) in New Mexico. The workshop includes career panels, research talks, and opportunities to connect with peers and leaders in the field. 

Rising Stars attendees at the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico. Credit: Katie Mast/Santa Fe Institute

Rising Stars attendees at the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico. Credit: Katie Mast/Santa Fe Institute