Category: Empower the Future of Research

Getting Started with HiPerGator

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To assist researchers and instructors in getting started with HiPerGator, UFIT produced a series of videos that explain the processes for setting up a HiPerGator account, training and support for UF’s high-performance computing environment, and using HiPerGator in undergraduate courses:

Getting Started with HiPerGator

Teaching with HiPerGator

UFIT also has a video explaining what ResVault is. That system can be used for computing on highly regulated data like export controlled data. HiPerGator is also certified to allow working with PHI if the proper procedure is followed.

Our Research Computing staff look forward to meeting you and enabling your line of inquiry. You’ll find many additional resources on the https://rc.ufl.edu/ website to help you begin your journey in UF’s high-performance computing environment, and staff are available for in-person and online consultations as needed to fit your schedule. Please contact Senior Director Erik Deumens if you have any questions about getting started with HiPerGator and our campus’s research computing ecosystem.

Multiple Storage Options for Research

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Storage provided by UFIT’s Research Computing department is for research and educational data, code, and documents used on HiPerGator and its ecosystem. Registered HiPerGator users are allotted 40GB of storage in their home directory, but depending on the research project, more storage may be needed. To support research and discovery, UFIT manages three DDN EXAScaler filesystems and offers three tiers of additional storage–blue, orange, and red.

● Blue for job input/output
● Orange for “warm” storage
● Red for Nvidia DGX A100 SuperPod workflows

Faculty with long-term projects should become familiar with the service levels included with each tier level. The storage offerings are described on the storage use policy page.
Access to additional storage resources is obtained either as a hardware investment or service investment. Learn more about HiPerGator hardware and service investments here:
https://rc.ufl.edu/get-started/purchase-allocation/. Typically, the turnaround time for provisioning additional storage resources is two to three business days.

Researchers from UF, SUS institutions, or SEC universities who would like a consult about their project’s storage needs are welcome to contact the Research Computing staff.

Collaborate with NVIDIA Center at UF

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University of Florida researchers have the opportunity to collaborate with NVIDIA experts to accelerate their workflow, improve performance on algorithms, and have regular consults during their project. The NVIDIA AI Technology Center at UF (NVAITC) is a joint research center of UF and NVIDIA, with a mission to advance artificial intelligence education and research. The NVAITC is the first in the U.S. and enables UF’s researchers access to NVIDIA experts and be early adopters of NVIDIA’s advanced technologies.

Both research groups and individual researchers are eligible to apply. The NVAITC is university-wide so faculty from any college or department are welcome to become an NVAITC collaborator.

Interested in working with the NVAITC? Begin the process by contacting UF Site Manager Kaleb Smith. Dr. Smith is a senior data scientist with NVIDIA and evaluates prospective collaborations. For additional information or to request a consultation about the process, please email UFIT Research Computing’s AI Team Lead Ying Zhang.

HiPerGator Achieves HITRUST Certification

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HiPerGator joins an elite group of university supercomputers that has earned the HITRUST r2 certification. HITRUST certification confirms that UF meets all international security and compliance requirements for data protection and can process large amounts of sensitive data and personal information, including patient health information (PHI). To set up a project on HiPerGator that works with PHI, researchers must still adhere to all policies and procedures listed on this webpage.

HITRUST certification is a way for universities, scientific organizations, and others to demonstrate that specific systems within their environment meet the framework’s rigorous standards and requirements. To achieve certification, independent assessors perform extensive testing and verification of hardware systems, networks, software, procedures, and processes to ensure that the system operates as described in documentation and policies. The HITRUST r2 assessment level is the most strenous review available and provides the highest level of assurance for organizations to manage their risk.

HiPerGator went online in 2013 for research on open data. The HiPerGator-RV enclave earned NIST 800-171 and NIST 800-53 compliance in 2017. Anyone with questions about UF’s HITRUST certification may contact Research Computing Director Dr. Erik Deumens.

UF-NVIDIA Hackathon: May 17-25

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“Attending the 2023 Hackathon will help our team optimize our models to run on HiPerGator and increase their efficiency and performance,” wrote Warrington College of Business Assistant Professor Ivy Munoko. “We use a large dataset with tens of millions of data points.”

Partnering with NVIDIA and OpenACC, the second annual UF-NVIDIA GPU Hackathon began this week. Ten teams of computational researchers and developers are participating, including three external teams representing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the University of Alabama, and Arizona State University. Each team is receiving mentorship in GPU programming, high-performance computing, and data applications from NVIDIA and UFIT staff. Professor Munoko’s team includes Karla Saldaña Ochoa, assistant professor, College of Design, Construction, and Planning, and Maxim Terekhov, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Information Systems and Operations Management.

The hackathon is an opportunity to port, accelerate, and optimize scientific applications with programming models and tools hosted through HiPerGator. Participants are also developing a deeper understanding of HiPerGator’s computational capabilities while utilizing applications on the latest supercomputing hardware. Researchers with questions about the hackathon or who would like to schedule a consult about UF-AI computing support may contact Applications Specialist and AI Support Team Lead Ms. Ying Zhang.

Practicum AI Offered This Summer

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The Practicum AI program will be offered this summer, from June 7–July 12. Practicum AI is led by Training and Biocomputing Specialist Dr. Matt Gitzendanner.

Practicum AI is a hands-on, applied AI curriculum developed for participants with a limited coding and math background. Using hands-on exercises and graphically-based, conceptual content, learners without extensive computational skills can begin exploring applied AI. While all sessions will be available via Zoom, registrants are encouraged to attend in person for the best opportunity to learn, interact with instructors and fellow students, and to ask questions. Practicum AI will be held in the UF Informatics Institute. Registration closes May 31. Visit this link to register.

Getting Started with AI │ June 7, 1-5pm
Introduction to artificial intelligence, how it can be applied in diverse disciplines, and some key ethical considerations.
Computing for AI │ June 14, 12:30-5pm
Getting started with the foundational tools used in AI research, including Jupyter Notebooks, Git and GitHub.com, and computer clusters, like HiPerGator.
Python for AI │ July 6 and July 7, 1-5pm
Introduction to the basics of Python programming, which is the predominant language used in AI. The course assumes no prior programming experience. Participants will learn the basics of Python to begin using AI frameworks for AI research.
Deep Learning Foundations (DLF) │ July 10, July 12, and July 13, 2-3:30pm
Introduction to neural networks–how they work and how to train them. Students must attend the July 6-7 Python course to participate in the three-day DLF course.

2023 UF+NVIDIA Hackathon

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Together with NVIDIA and OpenACC, UFIT is hosting the second annual University of Florida Open Hackathon from May 17 – May 25, 2023.

Advanced parallel computing or GPU skills are NOT required. However, it is helpful for teams to know the basics of GPU programming and profiling. The application deadline is March 1, 2023, with selected teams being notified shortly thereafter.

Scientist and computing experts from NVIDIA, along with UFIT’s Research Computing AI team, will serve as mentors to help the hackathon teams optimize their code for GPU acceleration. UFIT will provide HiPerGator as the work platform for the hackathon. Priority acceptance will be given to UF-affiliated research groups and their collaborators, but faculty, students, and research staff from all Florida universities and SEC member institutions are encouraged to apply. Anyone with questions about the application process or the hackathon contest format are welcome to contact AI Support Team Lead Ms. Ying Zhang.

Simplifying Access to HiPerGator

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UF is simplifying research collaboration across the state and around the world. Research and teaching faculty from InCommon federated institutions can now utilize HiPerGator, the University of Florida supercomputer, without having to apply for GatorLink account credentials. UF is an InCommon Federation member, one of more than 500 universities and research institutions worldwide. InCommon is a multi-institutional exchange enabling members of higher education affiliates to use their digital credential for access to systems and services at member institutions.

Expanding access via the InCommon Federation saves time by reducing administrative overhead for non-UF faculty, students, and staff who would like to leverage HiPerGator. Federated access removes the manual steps since the validation has already occurred at the participant’s institution.

External researchers must still be sponsored by a UF principal investigator or UFIT staff member before HiPerGator can be accessed. Instructors with State University System of Florida or Southeastern Conference institutions who would like to incorporate HiPerGator into their teaching also still need their requests approved by Research Computing, so the proper training and consultation can be scheduled and compute resources can be allocated. Anyone with questions about requesting a federated HiPerGator account can learn more on https://www.rc.ufl.edu/get-started/hipergator/request-federated-hipergator-account/.

Women in HPC & AI Panel and Luncheon

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UF Information Technology hosts semesterly Women in HPC & AI panel discussions to celebrate and promote women working in research computing and AI. These panels generate lively and collegial conversations and are thought-provoking as well as great networking opportunities. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend the Spring 2023 event, which is free and includes lunch:

Date and Time: Wednesday, February 22 │ 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Health Science Center Library, Communicore Building C1-121
Registration: Attend the Spring 2023 Panel and Lunch

The Spring 2023 panelists are:
• Dr. Azra Bihorac, Senior Associate Dean for Research Affairs at College of Medicine; Professor of Medicine, Surgery and Anesthesiology
• Dr. Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, Associate Professor, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Sciences
• Dr. Shreya Saxena, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
• Dr. Borui Zhang, Natural Language Processing Specialist, Academic Research Consulting and Services, George A. Smathers Libraries

UF’s Women in HPC & AI chapter provides mentoring opportunities and resources for female students and research community members. Space for the event is limited, so please register early. Anyone with questions about the university’s WHPC & AI chapter is welcome to contact AI Support Team Lead Ying Zhang.

Spring 2023 HiPerGator Training

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UFIT Research Computing is hosting a variety of trainings and workshops throughout the Spring 2023 semester. The options include HiPerGator user training, panel events, in-person training, and networking opportunities for UF’s research community.

The robust schedule features multiple virtual NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (DLI) workshops on the fundamentals for deep learning and for accelerated computing with CUDA Python. The always popular Birds-of-a-Feather sessions (BOF), facilitated by Research Computing staff, are for current and potential HiPerGator users to introduce high performance computing and AI resources and services available, such as accelerated genomics and MLFlow. There are also two AI panels scheduled. The first panel is for promoting women in HPC&AI, and the second will discuss the use of AI in arts and humanities research.

All UFIT Research Computing training, panels, and BOF sessions are free. To register for any of the offerings, visit https://rc.ufl.edu/calendar/. Faculty and staff can also request group, department, or 1-on-1 training consultations. For assistance with custom training needs, please contact UFIT’s Training and Biocomputing Specialist, Dr. Matt Gitzendanner.