Data Science in the News

Machine learning model finds COVID-19 risks for cancer patients

A new study by researchers at LLNL and the University of California, San Francisco, looks to identify cancer-related risks for poor outcomes from COVID-19. Analyzing one of the largest databases of patients with cancer and COVID-19, the team found previously unreported links between a rare type of cancer—as well as two cancer treatment-related drugs—and an increased risk of hospitalization...

Winter hackathon meets WiDS datathon

Sponsored by the DSI, LLNL’s winter hackathon took place on February 16–17. Hackathons are 24-hour events that encourage collaborative programming and creative problem solving. In addition to traditional hacking, the hackathon included a special datathon competition in anticipation of the Women in Data Science (WiDS) conference on March 7. Hackathon and datathon participants presented their...

WiDS Livermore returns on March 7

We are hosting our 5th WiDS Livermore regional event to encourage our community of women in computing. We will watch the WiDS Stanford Livestream as well as feature Lab-focused technical talks, mentoring breakout sessions, and a career panel. WiDS Livermore is an independent event hosted by LLNL Ambassadors as part of the annual Women in Data Science (WiDS) Worldwide conference organized by...

COVID-19 R&D: Computing responds to pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Laboratory immediately started seeking solutions to the myriad challenges posed by the global crisis. The Computing Directorate jumped right in with research and development activities that combine molecular screening to inform antiviral drug experimentation; a generative molecular design software platform to optimize properties of antiviral drugs; an...

60 years of cancer research

From studying radioactive isotope effects to better understanding cancer metastasis, the Laboratory’s relationship with cancer research endures some 60 years after it began, with historical precedent underpinning exciting new research areas. In one Cancer Moonshot project, research includes a close synergy between experiments and computation, allowing scientists to get a better picture of the...

Former interns share insights during career panel

The DSI’s new career panel series continued on August 10 with a session featuring former LLNL interns who converted to full-time employment at the Lab. Inspired by the annual Women in Data Science conference, the panel session was open to all LLNL staff and students. Moderator Mary Silva was joined by panelists from the Computing and Engineering Directorates: Brian Bartoldson, Jose Cadena...

Career panel series kicks off with women in Computing leadership roles

More than 100 LLNL staff and students gathered virtually for the first session of a new career panel series inspired by the annual WiDS conference and sponsored by the DSI. Panelists discussed how they have shaped their careers at the Lab and in Computing, their journeys into leadership roles, and how they navigate career challenges. Data scientist and panel series organizer Cindy Gonzales...

COVID-19 detection and analysis with Nisha Mulakken (VIDEO)

LLNL biostatistician Nisha Mulakken has enhanced the Lawrence Livermore Microbial Detection Array (LLMDA) system with detection capability for all variants of SARS-CoV-2. The technology detects a broad range of organisms—viruses, bacteria, archaea, protozoa, and fungi—and has demonstrated novel species identification for human health, animal health, biodefense, and environmental sampling...

Lab event encourages growth of women in data science

Coinciding with International Women’s Day on March 8, LLNL’s 4th Women in Data Science (WiDS) regional event brought women together to discuss successes, opportunities and challenges of being female in a mostly male field. The Lab’s first-ever virtual WiDS gathering attracted dozens of LLNL data scientists as well as some from outside the Lab, and featured speakers, a career panel and...

Data Science Institute collaborates with Livermore Lab Foundation and UC Merced to host two year-long fellowships

Early this spring, the Livermore Lab Foundation (LLF) in partnership with the UC Merced, awarded two rising seniors, Jose Garcia-Esparza and Teagan Zuniga, two one-year $15,000 fellowships to participate in the Lab’s Data Science Summer Institute (DSSI) and continue a part-time fellowship at the Lab for the remainder of the 2020–21 school year. The fellowships allow deserving students...

After successful virtual summer, DSSI looks ahead to 2021

In a year distinguished by the COVID-19 pandemic, LLNL’s Data Science Summer Institute (DSSI) pivoted quickly to an all-virtual program. The 28 students in the class of 2020 worked from their homes and attended online seminars, one-on-one mentoring sessions, team-building games, and other activities. Instead of an in-person poster session, the students participated in a virtual Summer Slam...

What put LLNL at the center of U.S. supercomputing in 2020?

The HPC world is waiting for the next series of transitions to far larger machines with exascale capabilities. By this time next year, the bi-annual ranking of the Top500 most powerful systems will be refreshed at the top as Frontier, El Capitan, Aurora, and other DOE systems come online. While LLNL was already planning around AI acceleration for its cognitive simulation aims and had a number...

From intern to mentor, Nisha Mulakken builds a career in bioinformatics

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a wave of new research and development at the Lab, and Nisha Mulakken is very busy. The biostatistician has enhanced the Lawrence Livermore Microbial Detection Array (LLMDA) system with detection capability for all variants of SARS-CoV-2. The technology detects a broad range of organisms—viruses, bacteria, archaea, protozoa, and fungi—and has demonstrated...

AI gets a boost via LLNL, SambaNova collaboration

LLNL has installed a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator from SambaNova Systems, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced today, allowing researchers to more effectively combine AI and machine learning (ML) with complex scientific workloads. LLNL has begun integrating the new AI hardware, SambaNova Systems DataScale™, into the NNSA’s Corona...

LLNL, ANL and GSK provide early glimpse into Cerebras AI system performance

AI chip and systems startup Cerebras was one of many AI companies showcased at the AI Hardware Summit which concluded last week. Cerebras invited collaborators from LLNL, Argonne National Laboratory, and GlaxoSmithKline to talk about their early work on Cerebras machines and future plans. Livermore Computing's CTO Bronis de Supinski said, “We have this vision for performing cognitive...

Machine learning speeds up and enhances physics calculations

Interpreting data from NIF’s cutting-edge high energy density science experiments relies on physics calculations that are so complex they can challenge LLNL supercomputers, which stand among the best in the world. A collaboration between LLNL and French researchers found a novel way to incorporate machine learning and neural networks to significantly speed up inertial confinement fusion...

Advancing healthcare with data science (VIDEO)

This video provides an overview of projects in which data scientists work with domain scientists to address major challenges in healthcare. To help fight the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers are developing computer models to search for potential antibody and antiviral drug treatments, sharing a data portal with scientists and the general public, and analyzing drug compounds via a novel text...

DL-based surrogate models outperform simulators and could hasten scientific discoveries

Surrogate models supported by neural networks can perform as well, and in some ways better, than computationally expensive simulators and could lead to new insights in complicated physics problems such as inertial confinement fusion (ICF), LLNL scientists reported. Read more at LLNL News.

AI hardware for future HPC systems (VIDEO)

This interview with Brian Spears, who leads cognitive simulations at LLNL, covers the current state of evaluation of AI chips and how those will mesh with existing and future HPC systems. Watch on YouTube.

COVID-19 research goes public through new portal

A new online data portal is making available to the public a wealth of data LLNL scientists have gathered from their ongoing COVID-19 molecular design projects, particularly the computer-based “virtual” screening of small molecules and designed antibodies for interactions with the SARS-CoV-2 virus for drug design purposes. The portal houses a wealth of data LLNL scientists have gathered from...