Science and Engineering for Better Lives A PLAN FOR THE NEXT 1,000 DAYS
“Health, energy, climate, space, and AI are going to be defining the next two decades, and the School of Science and Engineering is a research, education, and outreach powerhouse in all of these areas.”
— HRIDESH RAJAN,
Dean of Tulane
University School of Science and Engineering
he School of Science and Engineering (SSE) at Tulane University is a powerhouse in research, education, and outreach. Our faculty excel in delivering world-class STEM education, providing students with unique opportunities for civic engagement and leadership through programs such as the Center for Public Service and experiential learning. Tulane’s Strategy for Tomorrow highlights our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Building on existing strengths like the Brain Institute, the ByWater Institute, and the Energy Institute, SSE is also expanding engineering education. This 1,000-day plan aims to sustain these strengths while introducing five new research initiatives to address the world’s grand challenges.
Since arriving at Tulane on July 1, 2024, Dean Hridesh Rajan has worked closely with faculty, students, and staff to shape a bold vision for the School of Science and Engineering. This vision focuses on building the foundations necessary to lead in key research areas and equip students with skills to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Over the next 1,000 days, Dean Rajan will drive progress by addressing three critical questions:
1. 2. 3.
What new clusters of research excellence are strategically important for us?
How can we teach AI to all Tulane students—from AI literacy to AI engineering?
How can we make undergraduate research a differentiator for the majority of SSE students?
What new clusters of research excellence are strategically important for us?
Addressing the grand challenges of the next two decades will require novel science and engineering solutions. Given Tulane’s size, the School of Science and Engineering (SSE) must strategically focus on areas where it can emerge as a global leader, building faculty capacity, investing in world-class core facilities, and forming key partnerships. In response to this first question, SSE faculty and leadership has identified five key research initiatives where Tulane is uniquely positioned to excel.
The first of these initiatives is Precision Health Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Building on the strong collaboration between the School of Science and Engineering and the Schools of Medicine and Public Health, this initiative will focus on developing rapid diagnostic tools and personalized treatments for various diseases, including infectious diseases. By leveraging biotechnology, nanotechnology, and AI, the goal is to enable early disease detection, personalized treatments, and improved patient outcomes.
The second initiative is Resilient Habitats and Communities. This initiative will focus on developing sustainable, adaptable, and disaster-resistant environments and communities. In collaboration with the Schools of Architecture and Business, this effort will grow the science and engineering fields necessary to better understand climate change and sustainability issues, create smart infrastructure, renewable energy systems, advanced materials, and pollution mitigation platforms. This initiative will also
Rendering of The Sunflower: A Modular and Hexagonally Symmetric SEP Cargo Transport Spacecraft; 2017 NASA Big Idea challenge, first place
emphasize psychological, organizational, and design factors that foster resilience, contributing to the longevity and safety of our communities amid climate change and rapid urbanization.
The third initiative is Space Science and Engineering. Tulane’s proximity to NASA Michoud and the Stennis Space Center, alongside partnerships with companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and SpaceX, positions the university to lead in space exploration. This initiative will advance biomedical and biochemical systems for space, energy and catalysis (for renewables and rocket fuel), and the development of advanced materials for spacecraft and robotics. Work in Resilient Habitats will complement this area, creating synergies that further strengthen Tulane’s leadership.
The Cognitive Cyber Nexus is the fourth research initiative. This area will explore how human cognition, cyber systems, and physical environments can integrate and interact. Tulane’s interdisciplinary strengths in neuroscience, engineering, psychology, and natural sciences, along with its expertise in mammalian and primate research, position SSE to lead in pioneering advancements that merge cognition and machine. This initiative asks the question: how can our brains, computers, and machines work together seamlessly?
AI for All is the fifth initiative. This initiative serves as a unifying force across the other four research areas, amplifying their impact. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies will optimize renewable energy systems in Resilient Habitats, enhance the Cognitive Cyber Nexus by integrating AI with human cognition, and drive personalized diagnostics and treatment in health care. SSE will advance foundational AI research while also applying AI to solve real-world problems across disciplines.
While these five research initiatives will drive Tulane’s contributions to global scientific challenges, preparing students for the future is equally important. This brings us to the second critical question:
How can we teach AI to all Tulane students — from AI literacy to AI engineering?
AI is rapidly transforming every field, and the School of Science and Engineering recognizes that AI literacy is essential for every Tulane student. To prepare students for the future, the immediate goal is to develop an introductory AI literacy course accessible to students from all majors, providing that students from diverse disciplines understand fundamental AI concepts and their applications, from the arts to healthcare.
A comprehensive AI minor will also be designed, providing core courses in machine learning, AI applications, and ethics, with electives for specialization. Additionally, SSE will partner with industry leaders to offer workshops, seminars, and internships, giving students real-world, hands-on experience. Campus-wide AI events such as hackathons and guest lectures will encourage crossdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
In addition to preparing students through AI education, Tulane is committed to making undergraduate research a key differentiator in the student experience. This brings us to the third critical question:
How can we make undergraduate
research a differentiator for the majority of SSE students?
Expanding undergraduate research opportunities is a top priority for the School of Science and Engineering. Tulane will broaden the Tulane Research & Innovation Award (TRIA) program so more first-year students have access to research opportunities. This expansion will include entry-level lab assistant positions, collaborative projects with faculty, and a mentorship program pairing first-year students with experienced peers, graduate students, or faculty members.
Research opportunities will also be integrated into first-year courses, encouraging students to engage in meaningful research early in their academic journey. This approach will position undergraduate research as a core differentiator of the Tulane experience, fostering innovation and intellectual growth from the outset.
To achieve these ambitious goals, the School of Science and Engineering is committed to providing its faculty and students with the resources they need to excel.
Hridesh Rajan
Dean, Tulane School of Science and Engineering
Hridesh Rajan became the Dean of the School of Science and Engineering on July 1, 2024. At Tulane, his goal is to grow interdisciplinary, research-focused education in science and engineering for better lives. Before joining Tulane, Rajan was the Kingland Professor at Iowa State University and served as the department chair of computer science.
Rajan is renowned for his contributions to software engineering and programming languages and is the creator of the Ptolemy and Boa programming languages. His groundbreaking work has earned him prestigious awards such as the NSF CAREER Award, the LAS Early Achievement in Research Award, and the Facebook Probability and Programming Award. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a Fulbright Scholar, and an ACM Distinguished Scientist. Rajan also serves as an editorial leader for renowned publications, including IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering and ACM SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes.
Rajan holds a PhD and an MS in computer science from the University of Virginia and a B.Tech. in computer science and engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Varanasi. Rajan’s current research continues to push the boundaries of software engineering and programming languages, especially in making AI and machine-learning-enabled systems more reliable and trustworthy.
Dean
Rajan’s vision for the School of Science and Engineering over the
next 1,000 days is ambitious but achievable.
Through strategic focus, innovative research, and a commitment to empowering students, Tulane will further strengthen its position as a global leader in science and engineering, prepared to address the critical challenges of the future.
To fully realize this vision, we need your partnership. Your support will enable us to invest in the talent, technology, and infrastructure necessary to drive these bold initiatives forward. Together, we can position Tulane at the forefront of global innovation, creating lasting impact in fields that will define the future—health, energy, climate, space, and AI.
For more information, contact:
Anne Elizabeth Fuselier Managing
Director of
Advancement, School of Science and Engineering
757-201-8507
afuselier@tulane.edu
