University of Texas at Austin
J. Tinsley Oden

Our Mission

The Oden Institute mission is to provide the inclusive interdisciplinary environment that enables outstanding research, fosters high-impact collaborations, and advances graduate education in the field of computational science and engineering.

CSEM students

Our Vision

The Oden Institute advances the field of computational science and engineering and its application to address the grand challenge problems facing society.

CSEM students

Meet our Director

Karen E. Willcox, Director of the Oden Institute

Oden Institute Director Karen E. Willcox.

I am fortunate to be leading an interdisciplinary community of people who are so dedicated to the advancement and global impact of computational science, engineering and mathematics research and education. Every day I appreciate just what a major role the Oden Institute community plays in preparing the next generation of computational science researchers and practitioners, while at the same time pushing the boundaries of knowledge in pursuit of solutions to society’s grand challenge problems.

— Karen E. Willcox, Director of the Oden Institute

Learn more about the governance of the Oden Institute.

The Oden Institute at a glance

The Oden Institute is a unique interdisciplinary research unit at The University of Texas at Austin. The founding of the Oden Institute dates back to 1973, with the establishment of the Texas Institute for Computational Mechanics (TICAM). The Institute offers its own interdisciplinary graduate programs, prestigious postdoctoral fellowships, and a world-renowned visiting scholars program.

The Institute brings together 132 faculty representing 23 academic departments and research units, and 5 schools and colleges, including the Cockrell School of Engineering, the College of Natural Sciences, the Dell Medical School, the Jackson School of Geosciences, and the McCombs School of Business.

With over $118.8 million in active research funding, led primarily by 49 core faculty, the Institute has a large portfolio of research programs carried out in its 25 active research centers and groups.

Oden Institute operations are supported by 32 administrative, managerial, and technical staff. These staff support the academic programs, postdoctoral and visitor programs, information technology, accounting, human resources, communications, and research administration.

Interdisciplinary Faculty

132 affiliated faculty
from 23 academic departments
spanning 5 schools and colleges

30 visiting faculty fellows

9 Members of the National Academies

Interdisciplinary Research

$118.8M+ in active research funding

25 Institute Centers and Groups

79 postdocs and research staff

Interdisciplinary Education

101 students in our CSEM PhD and Master's programs

33 students awarded Institute CSEM and NIMS Fellowships

Research

Cutting-edge research

The interdisciplinary computational science, engineering and mathematics expertise shared among the Oden Institute community catalyzes innovative research approaches that address societal grand challenge problems.

Learn about research at the Oden Institute

Research

Interdisciplinary education

Our uniquely interdisciplinary graduate and undergraduate programs are building the next generation of computational scientists, engineers and mathematicians.

Explore interdisciplinary education at the Oden Institute

Research

An inclusive environment

We are working new Outreach and Community Engagement Initiatives into the very fabric of the Oden Institute, all the while listening to the diversity of opinions among our community.

Oden Institute Annual Reports

2022-23 Annual Report

2022–2023 Annual Report

2021-22 Annual Report

2021–2022 Annual Report

2021 Annual Report

2020–2021 Annual Report