Big changes are coming to the University’s Center for Computation and Technology with the search for a new director underway.
Current CCT Director Joel Tohline will retire at the end of this semester after serving the University for 31 years and being director for two terms.
In spring 2013, Executive Vice President and Provost Stuart Bell put together a search committee for the opening position.
“The search was nationally advertised and three finalists will be interviewed on campus this week and next,” said Guillermo Ferreyra, interim dean of the College of Sciences and chair of the search committee.
Other than the chair, the committee is composed of eight additional faculty, one student, two staff members and one member of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Ferreyra said.
The three candidates are Jagannathan “Ram” Ramanujam, Barry Schneider and Mark Novotny.
During the interview process, these potential new directors will be evaluated on qualities such as academic experience, research accomplishments, administrative skills, vision and leadership for the CCT, economic development and public relations skills and judgement and decision making, Ferreyra said.
Each of the candidates has a different background and potential to bring to the CCT.
Ramanujam is the only candidate from the University now, and has experience working in the CCT and holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the Ohio State University. He is a professor of electrical and computer engineering and has a joint faculty appointment with the CCT as of 2005. For more than a decade, Ramanujam has worked on the Tensor Contraction Engine project, funded by the National Science Foundation.
“CCT can and must continue to play an increasingly key role in enabling broad research and educational collaborations across LSU and the state, along with national and international collaborations,” Ramanujam said in his resume.
Schneider works for the National Science Foundation and holds a Ph.D. in theoretical chemistry from University of Chicago. Schneider’s research for the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment is conducted in the NSF’s Division of Cyberinfrastructure.
“This experience would directly support the goals of the CCT,” said Schneider in his résumé
Novotny works as the head and professor of Mississippi State University’s physics and astronomy department and holds a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University. Novotny also served as director of Mississippi State University’s Center for Computational Services from 2002 to 2005.
“Step by step CCT will lead LSU, and thereby lead Louisiana, into the technological future,” said Novotny in his vision document submitted to the University.
Each candidate will be present and have their own public forum before any decision is reached.
Ramanujam’s will be held in 2161 Patrick F. Taylor Hall today from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Schneider’s will be held in 130 Nicholson Hall on Thursday, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Novotny’s will be held in 2161 Patrick F. Taylor Hall on Dec. 12, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Students can access the candidates’ information online, using their myLSU login, at science3.lsu.edu/cct