Acquisition of a High Performance Parallel Computing Cluster for the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics and Computer Science at Clark University

为克拉克大学生物、化学、物理、数学和计算机科学系采购高性能并行计算集群

• 批准号: 0320875
• 负责人: David Hibbett
• 金额: $ 19万
• 依托单位: Clark University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-08-01 至 2006-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0320875&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Acquisition; Performance; Parallel; Computing; Cluster

A grant has been awarded to Clark University under the direction of Dr. David Hibbett(PI) with four co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs), titled "Acquisition of a HighPerformance Parallel Computing Cluster for the Departments of Biology, Chemistry,Physics, and Mathematics and Computer Science of Clark University". The proposedproject involves the development of a shared computational faculty for the naturalscience programs of Clark University. The instrumentation includes a Beowulf-type clusters, with 32 interconnected "nodes" (individual computers) and associated storage devices, hardware and software. The system will be developed over two years, with one cluster purchased in each of the first two years of the funding period. The proposed system was designed on the basis of an analysis of current and required computing capacity available to the PI and co-PIs. The PI and co-PIs all have active research programs (including graduate and undergraduate students) that require a high performance parallel computing cluster. The proposed instrumentation will be used in diverse research projects, including: 1) Evolutionary studies in fungi based on DNA sequences (Hibbett, Biology Dept.); 2) Studies of liquid-solid phase changes (co-PI H. Gould, Physics Dept.); 3) Algorithmic analyses of geometric relationships between objects (co-PI L. Han, Mathematics and Computer Science Dept.); and 4) Protein modeling and molecular dynamics (co-PIs R. Bruschweiler and S. Huo, Chemistry Dept.). These research projects are relevant to robotics, conservation of biodiversity, medicine, and other applied disciplines. In addition to research, the PI and co-PIs all participate in the Concentration in Computational Science, which provides a research-oriented background in computational applications for Clark University undergraduates majoring in diverse scientific disciplines. The PI and Co-PIs of this proposal will use the proposed instrumentation in a number of undergraduate courses that satisfy the Concentration in Computational Science, including Computer Simulation Laboratory, Molecular Evolution and Systematics, Quantum Chemistry, Biomolecular NMR, and others. Finally, the proposed cluster will be used in annual workshops on parallel computing and its applications that will be offered for area high school teachers. The development of a shared computational facility represents a significant interdepartmental initiative in the sciences at Clark. By pooling resources, the proposed project will develop critical resources for research that would be otherwise inaccessible to the individual Departments. In addition to enabling research, the proposed parallel computing cluster will become the cornerstone of the Concentration in Computational Science, which promotes interdisciplinary training for undergraduates in the sciences. The proposed instrumentation will also play a central role in summer workshops in parallel computing technology for local high school teachers. These workshops represent part of Clark University's ongoing community outreach efforts.

在David Hibbett博士（PI）和四位共同首席研究员（co-PI）的指导下，克拉克大学获得了一项资助，题为“为克拉克大学生物、化学、物理、数学和计算机科学系获得高性能并行计算集群”。拟议的项目包括为克拉克大学的自然科学项目开发一个共享的计算学院。该仪器包括一个贝奥武夫类型的集群，有32个相互连接的“节点”（单个计算机）和相关的存储设备、硬件和软件。该系统将在两年内开发，在资助期的头两年每年购买一个集群。提出的系统是在分析PI和co-PI可用的当前和所需计算能力的基础上设计的。PI和co-PI都有活跃的研究项目（包括研究生和本科生），这些项目需要高性能并行计算集群。拟议的仪器将用于不同的研究项目，包括：1)基于DNA序列的真菌进化研究（Hibbett，生物系）；2)液固相变研究（物理系共同主持H. Gould）；3)对象间几何关系的算法分析（韩磊合著，数学与计算机科学系）；4)蛋白质建模和分子动力学（合作pi R. Bruschweiler和S. Huo，化学系）。这些研究项目涉及机器人、生物多样性保护、医学和其他应用学科。除了研究之外，PI和co-PI都参加了计算科学的集中，为克拉克大学不同科学学科的本科生提供了计算应用的研究型背景。本提案的PI和co -PI将在满足计算科学专业的一些本科课程中使用所建议的仪器，包括计算机模拟实验室，分子进化和系统学，量子化学，生物分子核磁共振等。最后，提议的集群将用于并行计算及其应用的年度研讨会，该研讨会将为地区高中教师提供。共享计算设备的开发代表了克拉克大学科学领域一个重要的跨部门倡议。通过集中资源，拟议的项目将为研究开发关键资源，否则个别部门将无法获得这些资源。除了支持研究之外，提议的并行计算集群将成为计算科学集中的基石，这将促进科学本科生的跨学科培训。提议的仪器还将在为当地高中教师举办的并行计算技术暑期讲习班中发挥核心作用。这些研讨会是克拉克大学正在进行的社区外展工作的一部分。