Campus community members walking through the Pollak Library on Sept. 19 heard a palpable buzz coming from the first-floor lobby. That was the sound of the Titan Supercomputing Center Research Symposium. Supported by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs through its Titans Thinking Together initiative, the symposium reflects a broader campus commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration in harnessing the power of data and computation. These efforts aim to strengthen CSUF’s role as a regional leader in research that addresses complex societal challenges.
This was the first engagement supported by the T3 initiative, “Harnessing the Data Revolution through the Titan Supercomputing Center,” said Jessica Jaynes, professor of mathematics and director of the Titan Supercomputing Center. “We are so excited to offer the TSC as a resource to all CSUF students as they explore data science across campus. We can’t wait to partner with industry to help build a powerful workforce development engine.”
The afternoon was spearheaded by a compelling keynote address in the Data Visualization Center from Sandhya Kambhampati, senior data and graphics reporter at the L.A. Times. Kambhampati highlighted how transparent, relevant data combined with on-the-ground reporting can drive accountability and uncover critical insights. Her talk drew on recent investigative work, including examining the impacts of the L.A. fires.
The symposium continued downstairs in the library lobby with a dynamic poster session, featuring 35 research posters and informal presentations from students across campus. The breadth of research, ranging from theoretical mathematics to practical engineering applications, underscored the interdisciplinary nature of modern computational studies.
An interdisciplinary panel of judges from the colleges of Engineering and Computer Science, Health and Human Development, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics scored presentations and identified award-winning presenters. The winners in each category included:
Outstanding Data and Visualization
Damon Cawthon: “Modeling the Effects of Tunneling on Major League Baseball Hitter Swing Decisions,” mentored by Kevin Nichols, professor of mathematics
Faith Ramirez: “Using Computation to Understand the Surprising Properties of a Photobase Containing a Built-In Hydrogen Bonding Group,” mentored by Andrew Petit, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry
Best Visual and Informational Design
Manuel Berumen: “Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of 4-phenyl-thiazole Moiety on Inhibition of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase,” mentored by Stevan Pecic, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry
Ibrahim Emin Cem Patir: “Slip Resistance and Dislocation Behavior in BCC Refractory Multi-Principal Element Alloys,” mentored by Xinyi Wang, assistant professor of mechanical engineering
Excellence in Presentation and Delivery
Gustavo Prieto: “Can Photobases Activate Transition Metals?,” mentored by Andrew Petit, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry
Srinjoy Maji and Vhishal Vilas Shinde: “Detecting Diabetic Retinopathy Using Machine Learning Algorithms,” mentored by Sampson Akwafuo, assistant professor of computer science
The symposium was led by Petit, who also serves as associate director of the Titan Supercomputing Center.
“The poster session really showcased the wide breadth of exciting research that CSUF students accomplished using high-performance computing and data science,” said Petit. “We are so grateful to work with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Division of Information Technology, which have been important partners through their strong support of high-performance computing resources for teaching and research.”
The Titans Thinking Together initiative, led by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, is supported by a U.S. Department of Education RDI capacity-building grant, which provides mini-grants to support each interdisciplinary T3 cohort’s research projects and activities.
The Titan Supercomputing Center provides high-performance computing infrastructure that fosters a dynamic and inclusive environment. It aims to unite the community, drive innovative research, support computational education and prepare a skilled workforce for Southern California through student organizations, faculty engagement, industry partnerships and institutional collaborations.