TLDR;
- The Department of Energy’s new supercomputer, Doudna, will be built by Dell and powered by Nvidia’s next-gen Vera Rubin chips.
- Named after CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna, the system will support AI, physics, and molecular science research.
- Slated for deployment at Berkeley Lab in 2026, it will connect to DOE labs nationwide via ESnet for real-time data streaming.
- The project highlights the U.S. push to maintain scientific, technological, and national security leadership in AI and computing.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has partnered with Dell Technologies and Nvidia to build its next flagship supercomputer, slated to launch in 2026.
Dubbed “Doudna”, the system is named in honor of Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna, renowned for her groundbreaking work in gene editing through CRISPR technology.
This ambitious project is set to take shape at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California and will be operated by the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), one of the DOE’s premier user facilities. It will be powered by Nvidia’s forthcoming Vera Rubin GPU platform and integrated into Dell’s advanced, liquid-cooled server infrastructure.
Supercomputing for the Next Scientific Era
The Doudna supercomputer represents a leap in high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities. With over 11,000 scientists expected to leverage the system, its computational power will support a wide range of disciplines, from simulating molecular dynamics and exploring high-energy physics to accelerating the development of cutting-edge AI models.
One of the core features of this supercomputer is its ability to handle massive data streams in real time, thanks to its integration with the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet). This nationwide fiber optic network allows researchers across the U.S. to feed experimental and observational data directly into the system for immediate analysis.
NERSC Director Sudip Dosanjh noted that the architecture behind Doudna is intentionally designed to eliminate delays in scientific discovery.
“Whether it’s climate modeling or genetic research, the goal is to connect scientists with computational power as fast as possible,” he said.
Dell and Nvidia Deepen AI Collaboration
The DOE’s decision to tap Dell and Nvidia builds on an existing partnership between the two tech giants. Earlier this year, Dell and Nvidia unveiled the Dell AI Factory, a comprehensive platform integrating infrastructure, software, and orchestration tools like Run:ai to streamline AI operations.
This foundation plays directly into the Doudna project. Nvidia’s Vera Rubin chips, the successor to its powerful Hopper line, promise unmatched AI training efficiency. Coupled with Dell’s scalable and resource-optimized infrastructure, the Doudna system is poised to be one of the most energy-efficient supercomputers ever deployed by the U.S. government.
“Scientific supercomputers like Doudna are humanity’s most vital instruments for advancing knowledge,” said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the unveiling event. “They’re not just tools for research—they are cornerstones of our national security, technological leadership, and economic strength.”
National Security and AI
That said, While Doudna is being celebrated as a scientific achievement, it also underscores broader geopolitical and national security concerns. Supercomputers play a vital role in maintaining the U.S. nuclear stockpile, and the DOE’s machines are central to efforts in predictive modeling and cybersecurity.
The event took place amid rising scrutiny over U.S. technology exports. Nvidia, for example, has faced bipartisan pressure over its overseas operations, particularly regarding AI chip sales to China. Lawmakers like Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tom Cotton have raised concerns about national security implications tied to advanced chip technology.
