The University of Texas at Austin is giving energy students an unprecedented opportunity to harness computational science to make nuclear, oil and gas, and other energy systems safer and more efficient. The initiative provides students with exposure to the latest advances in computational science that are revolutionizing the energy sector and aligns with the State of Texas’ priority to train the future nuclear workforce and accelerate next-generation nuclear development and deployment.
Through access to digital twin technology, artificial intelligence, and the world’s fastest academic supercomputer, the KBH Computational Energy Fellows Program will prepare students for careers at the forefront of energy innovation. Launching in Spring 2026, the program is a collaboration between UT’s world-renowned Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences and the Kay Bailey Hutchison (KBH) Energy Center, made possible by a generous grant from the O’Donnell Foundation.
UT leads the nation in scale, depth and breadth of energy programs and expertise, advancing solutions across the full spectrum of energy. The new fellows program will bolster the energy workforce with a unique combination of experience and awareness necessary for Texas and U.S. producers to increase their competitive advantage as energy demand soars.
“Crafting experiences for students to have exposure to cutting-edge energy digital twin applications and high-performance computing is something that no other university could do, and it positions our graduates to enter the energy sector with a unique set of perspectives,” said Karen Willcox, director of the Oden Institute.
“This is a very special moment in the Oden Institute’s history,” Willcox said. “Not only does this program represent an exciting new partnership with the KBH Energy Center, it also brings our partnership with the O’Donnell Foundation full circle — from their early transformative investments in computational and applied mathematics to realizing the societal impact of those foundational ingredients through applications of digital twin technology and artificial intelligence in the energy sector.”
“The O’Donnell Foundation’s commitment to higher education and scientific research has been instrumental in positioning Texas as a leader in innovation,” said former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the center’s founding member. “By building on the O’Donnell Foundation’s commitment to advancing energy production capabilities to meet our country’s vital needs, this fellowship aims to equip the next generation of energy leaders to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving field, ensuring the United States maintains its leadership position in the world.”
