SPARC Events
SPARC events bring together U-M faculty, LANL scientists, and students to exchange ideas, launch projects, and grow collaborations in computational science and engineering.
Upcoming Events
Genesis Mission: SPARC Domain + AI Mixer
When: Wednesday, March 25, at 3:30 pm (add to calendar)
Where: 3520 Green Ct, Room 4425, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (free parking in front of the building, Yellow permit parking at the back)
This will be a focused, informal exchange between faculty working in science and engineering and colleagues in AI/ML. It is partly in response to the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission NOFO, which is encouraging interdisciplinary teams to use AI to address major national science and technology challenges, but the motivation is broader than a single call.
Increasingly, faculty pursuing opportunities across many programs are finding that they need to articulate a meaningful AI dimension in their research. Our goal is to help seed substantive connections, identify potential collaborators and co-PIs, and create space for conversations that may lead to strong new research directions and proposal teams.
This is also an opportunity to connect with LANL colleagues, especially those working in the Green Ct. building, as part of the Michigan SPARC. Note that Genesis submissions will be significantly strengthened by adding a National Lab partner.
SPARC Exchange
When: Weekly on Wednesdays at 4:00 pm (tea time at 3:30 pm)
Where: 3520 Green Ct, Room 4425, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Ongoing Programs
SPARC Exchange
When: Every Wednesday
Where: 3520 Green Ct, Room 4425, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
A weekly informal gathering for social connection and technical exchange between U-M and LANL SPARC collaborators. Open to students, postdocs, and faculty.
Each session is divided into two parts:
3:30 PM – Tea Time: A relaxed, social hour with refreshments.
4:00 PM – Idea Exchange: Rotating formats including research updates, tutorials, journal clubs, and guest speakers. Focused on student engagement, but faculty are encouraged to join and contribute.
Have a topic suggestion? Reach out via email to [email protected].
SPARC Colloquium
When: Monthly, typically during the Wednesday SPARC Exchange time slot
Where: 3520 Green Ct, Room 4425, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (hybrid format)
The SPARC Colloquium is a hybrid seminar featuring rotating speakers from LANL and U-M. Talks cover active or emerging areas of collaboration and are open to the broader community.
SPARC Workshops
SPARC Workshops bring LANL scientists to Ann Arbor for in-depth meetings with U-M faculty. These workshops are designed to scope new projects, explore synergies, and kick off collaborative research efforts.
Upcoming workshop details will be shared through the SPARC mailing list and at SPARC Exchange sessions.
Past Events
SPARC Colloquia
September 10 – Multi-fidelity uncertainty quantification: sampling, surrogates, and applications
Alex Gorodetsky (U-M, Aerospace Engineering)
May 21 – 30 Years of Sailing the Seas of Simulation
Tariq Aslam (LANL, T-1)
April 9 – Multidisciplinary Optimization
Joaquim Martins (U-M, Aerospace Engineering)
March 19 – Weapons Effects
Eric Nelson (LANL, XCP-8)
February 19 – Towards Large-scale Quantum Accuracy Materials Simulations
Vikram Gavini (U-M, Mechanical Engineering)
SPARC Workshops
Formal Methods / Learning / Simulation
Date: September 24–25, 2025
POCs: Earl Lawrence (LANL); Karthik Duraisamy (U-M)
Structured Metals and Alloys
Date: June 23–24, 2025
POCs: Amy Clarke, Tarik Saleh (LANL); Amit Misra (U-M)
Energetic Materials
Date: April 9–11, 2025
POCs: Chris Ticknor (LANL); Rebecca Lindsey (U-M)
High-Energy-Density Physics (HEDP)
Date: February 25–26, 2025
POCs: Josh Sauppe (LANL); Carolyn Kuranz (U-M)
Computational Materials
Date: January 22–24, 2025
POCs: Sven Rudin, Jianxin Zhu (LANL); Vikram Gavini (U-M)