Tag: research computing

Research Software Engineering Service Offered From UFIT

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UF Information Technology’s (UFIT) new research software engineering team are primed to help researchers carry out technically advanced tasks. Services offered include writing custom, expert-quality scientific software and helping faculty address the increased data management and research reproducibility requirements.

Initial funding for this new team is provided by President Sasse’s strategic funding initiative. The research software engineers (RSEs) can enable hero calculations–calculations that require all GPUs of HiPerGator, the University of Florida supercomputer–by developing high performance, scalable, and sustainable research software, improving research staff efficiency, and enabling technology adoption to enhance research outcomes.

Consulting and support from the RSEs include:

  • Leading and supporting the development of domain specific research software utilizing best software engineering practices.
  • Designing, architecting and implementing AI-driven solutions tailored to address complex scientific research problems across disciplines.
  • Designing and developing digital twin technology, encompassing object and system design, process development and optimization, predictive modeling, ensuring integration with multiple systems.
  • Optimizing workflow design for utilizing HiPerGator in running the software● Data management, processing, database setup and maintenance, and data access API development with internal and external data providers.
  • Expert consultation and guidance on cutting-edge software tools, algorithms, and hardware resources.

UFIT’s Research Computing staff looks forward to supporting your research project. Let’s discuss your line of inquiry and identify how our staff can help your project. Contact AI Support Manager Ms. Ying Zhang (yingz@ufl.edu) to begin your RSE consult.

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.

Expansive Research Training Schedule Announced

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More than 30 training sessions are scheduled this spring to aid researchers, students, and lab members of UF’s research community:

Spring 2022 RC Training Schedule

The schedule was developed to support both new and advanced users.  Session topics range from the basics of establishing an account and submitting a job on HiPerGator to utilizing Parabricks, submitting SLURM scripts,  and running graphical applications. There is also training scheduled on using Jupyter Lab and Jupyter Notebooks and for hosting code and collaborating with git/github.com.  Both beginner and intermediate Practicum AI workshops will be offered online.  All UFIT research computing trainings are free.

UFIT can also host group classes for a lab or department, or arrange a 1-on-1 consultation to discuss training needs. Anyone with questions about training to enable HiPerGator use is welcome to contact Dr. Matt Gitzendanner, training team lead for research.

 

 

ResVault is UF’s Ultra-Secure Bank for Restricted Data

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UF’s ResVault meets the NIST 800-171 requirements, enabling scientists and collaborators to conduct research on restricted and confidential data. The new ResVault brochure is now online.

“We worked with UFIT to develop a robust environment that meets the very strict federal information security guidelines,” says Roland Estrella, clinical research manager for the Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics. “The ResVault environment provides authorized users with on-demand access to linked data from multiple state agencies and has the capacity to process billions of medical and administrative records.”

Think of ResVault as a bank vault for restricted data. Like a bank, account holders can purchase a “safety deposit box” to store valuables. That box is a highly controlled environment where only authenticated, authorized users can work on the restricted data stored there. ResVault also has significant privacy protocols that protect what’s stored there from other customers and staff. When you want to access data stored in your ResVault, you have your own secure area to privately do so.

Researchers who would like to use ResVault may contact Brian Parks, Senior Information Systems Operations Analyst with UFIT Research Computing.

UF Data Center Grand Opening

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On May 7, UF administrators, research faculty, Dell executives, and Gainesville community leaders gathered at the East Campus to celebrate the grand opening of the UF Data Center. The event marked the unveiling of one of the most powerful university-based supercomputers in the country: HiPerGator.

“The UF Data Center is home to the fastest supercomputer in Florida, enabling UF and the state to recruit the brightest scholars from around the world,” said Vice President and CIO Elias Eldayrie. “Our expanded computing capacity will reap global dividends scientifically and strengthen Florida as a hub for technology and innovation.”

HiPerGator will attract the best faculty and post-doc candidates because of the supercomputer’s ability to process ‘big data’. The computational speed of HiPerGator is an astounding 150 trillion calculations per second. What does this mean? Data is processed faster, allowing faculty to analyze research and move/share findings with top institutions around the world. Before HiPerGator, UF professor David Ostrov needed months to conduct drug tests. Now, computations can be done in just hours.

“HiPerGator can help drugs get from the computer to the clinic more quickly. We want to discover and deliver safe, effective therapies that protect or restore people’s health as soon as we can,” Ostrov said.

Check out the HiPerGator fact sheet to learn more about the first supercomputer in the state of Florida! Additional information is available on the Research Computing Web page or by contacting UF Research Computing.