Redefining Research Computing Support:

Lessons Learned at Duke

Redefining Research Computing Support:

Lessons Learned at Duke

Julian LombardiAssistant Vice President

Duke Office of Information Technology

Julian LombardiAssistant Vice President

Duke Office of Information Technology

CSG Spring 2008CSG Spring 2008

The Situation

•Center for Computational Science Engineering and Math (CSEM)

•Visualization Lab

•Duke Shared Cluster Resource (DSCR)

•OIT co-managed infrastructures

(2007)

Rave Display SystemTiled Display Wall

Duke Immersive Visualization Environment (DiVE)

Visualization Lab

+Office of Information Technology

Duke Shared Cluster Resource

+

Faculty Contributions

Duke Shared Cluster Resource

How do we stand up a new service organization

that has the flexibility to meet the emerging research needs at Duke?

Needs at Duke

•Broad and participatory direction setting (integrated approach directing our investment)

•Support for emerging and inter- disciplines (no silos)

•Areas of consideration:

•Scalable computing

•Data and data analysis

•Interface, visualization, simulation

•Collaboration services

People

Cyberinfrastructure refers to the distributed computer, information and communication technologies combined with the personnel and integrating components that provide a long-term platform to empower the modern scientific research endeavor.

From NSF Report on Revolutionizing Science and Engineering through Cyberinfrastructure (NSF PR 03-18)

Scalable Computing RCC

Visualization RCC

(DSCR)

Shared ClusterShared ClusterResourcesResources

(Visualization Lab)

Visualization HardwareVisualization HardwareResourcesResources

(Network, Research Storage,Collaboration, Data Management)

Other SharedOther SharedResources/InfrastructuresResources/Infrastructures

OIT/UnitOIT/UnitDirectorsDirectorsOIT/UnitOIT/UnitDirectorsDirectors

OIT/UnitOIT/UnitManagersManagersOIT/UnitOIT/Unit

ManagersManagers

OIT/UnitOIT/UnitStaffStaff

OIT/UnitOIT/UnitStaffStaffConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultant ConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultant ConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultant

Research Research SupportSupportDirectorDirector

Research Research SupportSupportDirectorDirector

Research Research SupportSupportDirectorDirector

Research Research SupportSupportDirectorDirector

FacultyFacultyDirectorDirectorFacultyFacultyDirectorDirector

FacultyFacultyDirectorDirectorFacultyFacultyDirectorDirector

Faculty Advisory Faculty Advisory BoardBoard

SubcommitteeSubcommittee

Faculty Advisory Faculty Advisory BoardBoard

SubcommitteeSubcommittee

Faculty Advisory Faculty Advisory BoardBoard

SubcommitteeSubcommittee

Faculty Advisory Faculty Advisory BoardBoard

SubcommitteeSubcommittee

GovernanceGovernanceFacultyFaculty

Advisory Advisory BoardBoard

FacultyFacultyAdvisory Advisory

BoardBoard

(Network, Research Storage,Collaboration, Data Management) (DSCR)

(Visualization Lab)

Scalable Computing RCC

Support CenterSupport CenterProgrammatic, Training andProgrammatic, Training andEducation, AdministrativeEducation, Administrative

Shared ClusterShared ClusterResourcesResources

Visualization RCC

(Visualization Lab)

Visualization HardwareVisualization HardwareResourcesResources

OIT/UnitOIT/UnitDirectorsDirectorsOIT/UnitOIT/UnitDirectorsDirectors

Research Research SupportSupportDirectorDirector

Research Research SupportSupportDirectorDirector

ConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultant

Research Research SupportSupportDirectorDirector

Research Research SupportSupportDirectorDirector

Other SharedOther SharedResources/InfrastructuresResources/Infrastructures

OIT/UnitOIT/UnitManagersManagersOIT/UnitOIT/Unit

ManagersManagers

OIT/UnitOIT/UnitStaffStaff

OIT/UnitOIT/UnitStaffStaff ConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultant ConsultantConsultantConsultantConsultant

Vice ProvostVice Provostandand

AVP OITAVP OIT

Vice ProvostVice Provostandand

AVP OITAVP OIT

FacultyFacultyDirectorDirectorFacultyFacultyDirectorDirector

Vice ProvostVice Provostandand

AVP OITAVP OIT

Vice ProvostVice Provostandand

AVP OITAVP OIT

FacultyFacultyDirectorDirectorFacultyFacultyDirectorDirector

OrganizationOrganization

(common service portfolio coordinating (common service portfolio coordinating infrastructures)infrastructures)

Cost Walk-down

Review

Lessons Learned

•Be broadly inclusive

•Demonstrate commitment

•Listen, listen, listen

•Facilitate vision

•Build on strengths

•Define change management

•Empower key faculty (from larger body)

FinFin

julian@duke.edujulian@duke.edu