On Friday, September 26, Clemson University hosted its first High Performance Computing (HPC) Day, drawing more than 220 participants to celebrate and strengthen Clemson’s growing HPC community. The event connected undergraduate and graduate students, faculty researchers and industry partners through networking, poster sessions and collaborative discussions on the future of computing at Clemson and beyond.
The day-long program, organized by Research Computing and Data (RCD) and ReDCAT, and sponsored by VAST Data, Cambridge Computer and the Clemson Vending Machine Committee, reflected Clemson’s commitment to advancing research infrastructure that accelerates discovery.
“Clemson’s inaugural HPC Day showcased the strength and diversity of its high performance computing community, drawing 224 participants from across disciplines,” said Jill Gemmill, associate vice president for Research Computing and Data. “With 44 student research posters, stimulating talks and vibrant discussions, the event highlighted a shared enthusiasm for collaboration and innovation. It was a powerful demonstration of how HPC is enabling research across the University.”
The poster session underscored the breadth of Clemson’s HPC-powered research, with projects spanning engineering, data science, life sciences and the humanities. Faculty and students shared how advanced computing resources are helping tackle complex challenges from climate modeling to medical imaging, while also gaining feedback from peers and industry experts. Students engaged directly with faculty, industry and alumni who saw firsthand how Clemson’s computing resources are transforming education and research.
This event was invaluable, and Jon Calhoun, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, noted how impressive it was.
“Clemson’s inaugural HPC Day exceeded all of my expectations. Its success is clear evidence of the importance of HPC to not just students and faculty but that of the University and its future,” Calhoun said. “Seeing several proud Clemson alumni come back home and give back to this community showcased the strength of our Clemson Family.”
Industry sponsors VAST Data and Cambridge Computer joined faculty leaders in highlighting emerging trends in data storage, cloud collaboration and AI integration, illustrating how Clemson’s HPC ecosystem connects directly to global innovation.
HPC Day demonstrated how Clemson’s investments in research infrastructure are not only advancing faculty discovery but also preparing students to thrive in data-driven fields and be well-positioned as job candidates after graduation. HPC Day is expected to become an annual tradition, strengthening Clemson’s leadership in computational research and fostering partnerships that extend through and beyond South Carolina
