Lemhi supercomputer expands Idaho research capacity

A powerful supercomputer is expanding high-performance computing for researchers across Idaho, enabled by a partnership between Idaho National Laboratory and the state's public research universities.

The system, known as Lemhi, serves researchers at Boise State, University of Idaho and Idaho State University and replaces the Falcon supercomputer, delivering substantially faster performance and improved efficiency. The upgrade strengthens Idaho's capacity for research, education and innovation and provides computing capabilities comparable to those at major national research institutions.

"Access to this level of computing allows Idaho to punch well above its weight," said Luke Sheneman, director of research computing and data services at University of Idaho. "It helps us attract top faculty and graduate students, compete for federal research funding and tackle problems we could not address without this kind of infrastructure."

High-performance computing, often called supercomputing, allows researchers to solve problems that require enormous computational power, not because of the amount of data involved, but because of the complexity and scale of the problem itself. These systems process information faster than standard computers, accelerating discovery across disciplines such as artificial intelligence, energy systems, engineering, health sciences and natural resources.

"My research uses large-scale molecular simulations to better understand how chemicals interact with liquids, which is important for applications ranging from drug development to energy storage," said Bourgeois Gadjagboui, a doctoral student in Boise State's School of Computing. "Lemhi enables this work to scale by providing the computing power and data infrastructure needed to analyze thousands of molecules efficiently and support data-driven and artificial intelligence-based approaches."

Researchers throughout the state can access Lemhi remotely using their university credentials, allowing them to complete computing tasks in just hours or days that might otherwise take weeks or months on a regular computer. This level of access supports advanced research, workforce development and collaboration among institutions.

Keith Weber, director of the Geographic Information System Training and Research Center at Idaho State University, said a task that previously took 12.8 hours on a Windows workstation was completed in six minutes on the supercomputer. The faster processing enabled researchers to create digital terrain and ladder fuel models used in pre-wildfire mitigation efforts and post-fire management studies funded by FEMA and NASA.

Lemhi is hosted at the Idaho National Laboratory's Collaborative Computing Center in Idaho Falls, where INL provides the secure facility, power and core infrastructure required to operate and sustain a supercomputer. University of Idaho currently oversees day-to-day operations, with leadership set to rotate among the three universities in the future. Boise State is expected to assume the lead role in late 2026.

Both Falcon and Lemhi are the result of a long-standing collaboration between INL and Idaho's research universities. As INL modernizes its computing systems, select resources are made available for academic use, extending the value of major research investments before systems are eventually retired through federal surplus processes.

INL researchers used Lemhi for approximately six years before making it available for academic research, reflecting INL's ongoing commitment to supporting university partnerships. This approach helps maximize the value of advanced computing investments while expanding access to cutting-edge tools for education and research.

"Scientific computing and artificial intelligence are critical enablers of Idaho's leadership in research and engineering," said Eric Whiting, senior advisor of scientific computing and AI at INL. "University access to capable computer systems such as Lemhi will continue to elevate Idaho's scientific reputation and create positive impacts for both the state and INL."

By supporting research across a wide range of disciplines, Lemhi helps Idaho institutions compete for federal funding, attract top researchers and train the next generation of scientists and engineers, reinforcing the statewide impact of INL's long-term investment in research excellence.

Share This

• Share on Facebook
• Share on X
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share through Email