Academic HPC Integration
Bridging the Gap Between IT and Discovery: Optimizing "Peopleware" for Science.
More Than Just Hardware
The most powerful supercomputer is useless if domain scientists find the learning curve too steep. Academic HPC integration is about bridging the gap between Enterprise IT (keeping the lights on) and Research Science (discovering the unknown). We focus on facilitators, curriculum, and sustainable funding models to make the cluster a true engine for innovation.
1. The Human Infrastructure: Research Facilitators
Traditional IT support fails in HPC. We help you implement the Research Software Engineer (RSE) role—staff who speak both "Science" (genomics, CFD, social science) and "Systems" (Linux, MPI, Schedulers).
Engagement Models:
- Walk-in Clinics: Weekly office hours for code debugging.
- Embedded RSEs: Placing experts directly in domain buildings.
- Concierge Onboarding: White-glove service for new PIs to port workflows.
2. Sustainable Finance: The "Condo" Model
The Concept
The University funds the "Infrastructure" (Racks, Cooling, Storage). PIs use grant money to buy the "Compute Nodes" (the tenants).
The Benefit
PIs get professional management of their hardware for free. When their nodes are idle, the scheduler scavenges cycles for the general student queue (Backfill), maximizing university ROI.
3. Improving "Time-to-Science"
Grant Support
Providing PIs with "Boilerplate Text" for Facilities Statements to increase their chances of winning NIH/NSF grants.
Debug Partitions
Reserved nodes with short time limits for instant compilation and testing, bypassing the long main queue.
Quick-Start Templates
Repository of job scripts for top applications like GROMACS, TensorFlow, and VASP.
4. Marketing the Impact to Administration
We help you speak the language of University Administration to secure continued funding.
Integration Checklist
| Domain | Action Item | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Training | Partnership with The Carpentries for Unix/Python workshops. | Global Curriculum |
| Access | Implement Open OnDemand for browser-based HPC access. | Low-Friction UI |
| Policy | Drafting "Condo Buy-in" Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). | Legal Framework |
| Marketing | Automated tracking of cluster acknowledgments in publications. | ROI Reporting |
Accelerate Your Institution
Download our "Academic HPC Facilities Statement Template" and "Condo Model MOU" to strengthen your university's research posture.
Download Integration Guide (.docx)