RCN:CIP: A Connect.CI-based Community-Wide Mentorship Network (CCMnet) for the Advancement of Science and Engineering Research and Education

网络基础设施(CI)在科学和工程研究中已变得无处不在，部分原因是高性能计算(HPC)能力的空前加速和可用性，使许多突破性发现得以实现。为了推进科学发现，许多研究人员面临着将他们的工作从本地机器或部门服务器过渡到大规模CI的问题，这需要开发新的技术技能。研究计算促进员、研究软件工程师和其他CI专业人员(CIP)是建议研究人员如何重塑他们进行研究的方式、优化工作流程、教育和协助使用新技术并充当信息资源所需的基本劳动力。然而，对于这个社区来说，要跟上处理当今复杂研究问题所需的广泛的工具、技术和专门方法是一项挑战。CIP社区依赖于点对点的知识共享；这些有价值的知识广泛分散，很难找到。一个强大、协作的导师网络对于成功维持和发展CIP员工队伍以应对未来的科学挑战至关重要。以Connect.CL为基础的社区辅导网络(CCMNet)正在发展这个由来自全国各地的主题专家组成的网络，利用Connect.CL门户网站作为该网络的中央协调中心。通过这些努力，CCMNet正在加强研究人员和CIP对自己能力的信心，使他们能够探索新的问题，并促进更快的科学发现和进步。CCMNet计划正在建立一个跨越更广泛的CIP社区的导师网络，方法是：(A)开发一个用于建立联系和交流知识的门户网站，(B)与社区中其他以导师为中心的项目建立伙伴关系，以促进对所有CIP的支持，(C)接触服务不足的群体，以创建一个更具包容性和多样性的CIP社区，以及(D)为整个社区的利益开发最佳实践和指导。这些努力为CIP劳动力的发展带来了新的结构和一致性，使更先进的CIP劳动力能够更好地支持当今的研究需求，并预测未来的需求。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Cyberinfrastructure (CI) has become ubiquitous in science and engineering research, partly due to the unprecedented acceleration and availability of high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities enabling many breakthrough discoveries. To advance scientific discovery, many researchers are faced with transitioning their work from local machines or departmental servers to large-scale CI, which requires developing new technical skills. Research computing facilitators, research software engineers, and other CI professionals (CIP) are an essential workforce needed to advise researchers on how to reshape the way they perform research, optimize workflows, educate and assist in the use of new technologies, and serve as information resources. However, it is a challenge for this community to keep abreast of the extensive array of tools, techniques, and specialized approaches needed to pursue today’s complex research questions. The CIP community relies on peer-to-peer knowledge sharing; this valuable knowledge is widely dispersed and difficult to find. A strong, collaborative mentor network is critical to successfully sustaining and advancing the CIP workforce to meet future scientific challenges. The Connect.Cl-based Community-wide Mentorship Network (CCMNet) is developing this network of subject matter experts from across the country, leveraging the Connect.Cl portal as the network's central coordination hub. Through these efforts, CCMNet is strengthening researchers’ and CIPs’ confidence in their abilities, enabling the exploration of new questions, and facilitating more rapid scientific discoveries and advancements.The CCMNet program is building a mentor network that spans the broader CIP community by (a) developing a portal for making connections and exchanging knowledge, (b) forming partnerships with other mentor-centric programs in the community to advance support for all CIPs, (c) reaching out to under-served groups to create a more inclusive and diverse CIP community, and (d) developing best practices and guidance on mentorship for the benefit of the entire community. These efforts bring novel structure and consistency to the development of the CIP workforce, enabling a more advanced CIP workforce better able to support today’s research needs, as well as anticipate future needs.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.