LSU Names Mathematician Oliver Dasbach Interim CCT Director
June 04, 2025
Oliver Dasbach
Oliver Dasbach, professor and chair of the LSU Department of Mathematics, has been selected to serve as interim director of the LSU Center for Computation & Technology (CCT).
One of his first responsibilities will be to shepherd the center and its 44 joint faculty through an external review of existing research strengths and strategic planning to position CCT as a difference-maker in using digital twins, cybersecurity, AI, and other high-powered computational approaches to solve complex problems in Louisiana and around the world.
“Professor Dasbach has demonstrated excellence in leadership at LSU,” said Robert Twilley, LSU vice president of research and economic development. “As chair, he’s supported notable research productivity by faculty in the math department and led the development of a new undergraduate curriculum in data science and AI. These examples will serve LSU in developing a clear mission for CCT to take advantage of future research opportunities.”
Dasbach is originally from Germany and earned his Ph.D. from Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf in 1997. He joined LSU in 2002 and has served as department chair since 2016. Dasbach is an expert in the mathematical field of knot theory and his most cited papers explore the Jones polynomial, which is used to study the structures of manifolds and tangled loops in three-dimensional space, with applications in quantum computation and field theory as well as in understanding the folding behavior of proteins. The Jones polynomial provides a measure of entanglement and can distinguish between different types of knots or links. Dasbach also co-edited the book Interactions between Hyperbolic Geometry, Quantum Topology and Number Theory, published by the American Mathematical Society in 2011.
“CCT is widely regarded as a leader in pushing the boundaries of computation—not only in science and engineering, but also in the arts and humanities,” Dasbach said. “In this era of AI and quantum computing, I am excited to see the new interdisciplinary research opportunities CCT will generate, and the impact we will have on LSU and the state of Louisiana.”
Dasbach’s first day as interim CCT director was Monday, June 2. His predecessor, Jagannathan “Ram” Ramanujam, was recently chosen to serve as special advisor to Vice President Twilley on data and quantum science and AI.
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