CC* Cyber Team: Improving Access to Regional and National Cyberinfrastructure for Small and Mid-Sized Institutions

网络基础设施对于21世纪的研究的重要性，就像试管和显微镜在20世纪的重要性一样。中小型院校的教师和学生要想保持竞争力，就必须熟悉并有效利用网络基础设施。这一区域性倡议使新英格兰北部（缅因州、马萨诸塞州、新罕布什尔州、佛蒙特州）中小型机构的研究人员和教育工作者能够更容易地获得研究计算促进者的支持，从而有效地利用网络基础设施。研究计算促进者将技术知识和强大的人际交往能力与服务思维相结合，并利用他们与网络基础设施提供商的联系，确保研究人员和教育工作者能够获得最好的可用资源。人们普遍认为，研究计算促进者对成功利用网络基础设施至关重要，但供不应求。由于大多数中小型机构不能单独支持一个或两个以上的研究计算促进者，该项目正在发展一个可持续的专家库，他们可以在该地区的机构之间工作。该项目正在进一步向上游投资，将导师与学生配对，以加速小型机构的研究和教育项目，并培养新人才，以满足日益增长的学术和行业需求。除了支持对东北经济未来至关重要的科学、技术和教育目标外，该项目还在测试和完善一种新的模式，即通过研究计算促进者提供支持，使其他地区的中小型机构受益。

Cyberinfrastructure is as important for research in the 21st century as test tubes and microscopes were in the 20th century. Familiarity with and effective use of cyberinfrastructure at small and mid-sized institutions is essential if their faculty and students are to remain competitive. This regional initiative enables effective use of cyberinfrastructure by researchers and educators at small and mid-sized institutions in Northern New England (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont) by making it easier to obtain support from Research Computing Facilitators. Research Computing Facilitators combine technical knowledge and strong interpersonal skills with a service mindset, and use their connections with cyberinfrastructure providers to ensure that researchers and educators have access to the best available resources. It is widely recognized that Research Computing Facilitators are critical to successful utilization of cyberinfrastructure, but in very short supply.Since most small and mid-sized institutions cannot individually support more than one or two Research Computing Facilitators, the project is developing a sustainable pool of experts who can work across institutions in the region. The project is investing further upstream, pairing mentors with students to both accelerate research and education projects at small institutions and develop a pipeline of new talent to meet growing academic and industry demand. In addition to supporting science, technology and education goals that are vital to the economic future of the Northeast, the project is testing and refining a new model for delivering support from Research Computing Facilitators that can benefit small and mid-sized institutions in other regions.