Suzanne Parete-Koon PhD

Dr. Suzanne Parete-Koon leads the Workforce Development Initiative for the Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She also leads the user Training Program for Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility. With a background in astrophysics and expertise in high-performance computing and AI, she develops scalable strategies for talent cultivation across all career stages, from K–12 outreach to postdoctoral development and staff upskilling. Her work builds bridges between research, education, and workforce preparation to ensure a resilient and vibrant scientific computing community.

 

Presentation Title:

CCSD Workforce Development Initiative

Presentation Abstract:

As computing technologies evolve rapidly, the need to cultivate and retain a highly skilled, adaptable, and diverse workforce becomes mission-critical. This session will introduce the Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate (CCSD) Workforce Development Initiative at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), which is focused on accelerating talent development across high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing. This initiative partners with ORNL to build structured, scalable learning experiences that span K–12, college, graduate, and professional levels—ensuring that today’s learners are prepared to become tomorrow’s scientific computing leaders. The session will highlight how CCSD integrates, interdisciplinary mentorship, sustainable recruitment practices, and cross-training challenges to grow internal capacity and foster long-term engagement with the national research enterprise.