Notre Dame Center for Research Computing (CRC)

Amid evolving global and national security challenges, novel AI capabilities are increasingly important, said Paul Brenner, Senior Associate Director of the Notre Dame Center for Research Computing (CRC). Along with other Notre Dame faculty and students, Brenner recently attended the second annual Robust Artificial Intelligence Test Event, hosted by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane). The group demonstrated Large Language Models (LLMs) capabilities integrated into swarms of low-cost robots, taking advantage of a critical opportunity to collaboratively prototype, leverage, secure and counter AI. Discover more about these efforts: https://lnkd.in/eZ7nxNy2

At the University of Notre Dame, researchers meet big questions with big data. 📈 📊 That approach will fortify a new research initiative that responds to demographic realities, from rising inequality to declining health. Known as Notre Dame Population Analytics (ND Pop), this effort will convene scholars who tackle important population-level issues. Launched through a partnership between the University of Notre Dame - College of Arts & Letters and the Poverty Initiative, ND Pop will accelerate policy-relevant work while empowering social scientists with key tools: access to curated datasets, specialized staff and research associates, and other essential support services. Along with Notre Dame Research, the Notre Dame Center for Research Computing (CRC) and the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society, ND Pop aims to establish a Federal Statistical Research Data Center (RDC), bringing a secure research environment to campus for social science researchers to responsibly access sensitive data. “Notre Dame has long been a driving force behind some of the most significant research on poverty,” said Jeff Rhoads, vice president for research and professor of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering at Notre Dame. “Notre Dame Research is proud to partner with ND Pop to further enhance that strength by connecting it with the University’s expanding capabilities in advanced data and computational science.” In a new story, learn more about some of ND Pop's initial impacts and collaborations, including those at the University of Notre Dame - Keough School of Global Affairs: https://lnkd.in/e5xjhZzi

With winter almost underway, we're focused on what this spring will bring: expanded storage infrastructure. After administering a user survey earlier this year, we sought out to identify a file system that would bring performance and reliability, affordable storage tier options, and backup security. Going forward, we decided to partner with NetApp — an initial investment that will add more than 3 petabytes of usable capacity. In our November newsletter, learn more about the process and outcomes to follow. Also uncover our tips for file manipulation commands using Bash. https://lnkd.in/gsWQF7DR

Digital upskilling isn’t just for cybersecurity professionals. For members of the U.S. Air Force, proficiency in digital skills can improve performance, cultivate proactive thinking, and influence mission success. As the Notre Dame Center for Research Computing (CRC) promotes cyber education, its researchers are including Airmen in their work. The CRC’s Senior Associate Director Paul Brenner (a USAF Reserve Officer) recently partnered with Lisa Tripp — Air Education and Training Command’s command analytics officer and AI liaison — to develop the AETC Data Literacy Foundations course, designed to help 56,000 Airmen manage data effectively in their roles. Col. Brenner also serves as a senior advisor to the Air Education and Training Command’s chief information officer. Learn more about the goals, approach, and outcomes of this course: https://lnkd.in/du_fbC5V

“Internet freedom” and the “dark web” are complex concepts, and the future of digital democracy involves reframing how we understand these terms, experts at the Notre Dame Center for Research Computing (CRC) explain. https://lnkd.in/eCuakY3b

Our software development team recently hosted its annual reCon intra-conference, establishing opportunities to reConnect with one another, do reConnaissance on new technologies, and reConsider goals. From discussions about AI coding companions to training on design thinking, the conference was the perfect prompt for collaborating, learning skills, and thinking in new ways. 🍁 In our October newsletter, learn more about what we've been up to and what's to come. Also featured is our tech tip of the month, which lays out how to maximize research with HTCondor for high throughput computing! Explore here: https://lnkd.in/eND9Ck-X

From policy to practice, new research analyzes whether platforms are keeping social media users safe from bots. Discover what happened when researchers, led by senior author Paul Brenner, tried to launch bots on eight platforms. The expert team included Kristina Radivojevic Topalovic, along with CRC student interns Catrell Conley, Cormac Kennedy and Christopher Mc Aleer. Learn more below ⬇️

September has even more powerful, seamless computing resources in store! With information on upcoming training sessions, analysis of Conda's new terms of service, and more, this month's newsletter sets up our community for a great year ahead. 💡 Don't miss the chance to take a user survey — also linked in the newsletter — and share what we can do to help your research journey! https://lnkd.in/e3fRJq5R

The University of Notre Dame received 829 separate awards this year — the largest number on record — for a total of $223 million in total research funding. Of these varied projects, 173 will support international research in 67 countries around the world. The largest single sponsor was the National Science Foundation (NSF), which contributed over $46 million to research at Notre Dame. A new story introduces some of the most significant awards and research advancements from the past fiscal year, including the following highlights. 💡 As part of the CHIPS and Science Act, Notre Dame’s College of Engineering supports the on-shoring of semiconductor manufacturing. 📊 University of Notre Dame - College of Science works to design and fabricate new circuits that mitigate or eliminate “trapped flux” — a significant obstacle affecting the performance of supercomputing circuits. 🌎 Three faculty members from the University of Notre Dame - College of Arts & Letters received Guggenheim Fellowships in recognition of their career achievements and exceptional promise. ⚖ With a grant from the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Notre Dame Law School’s Exoneration Justice Clinic will administer a program for the defense of Mexican nationals in criminal matters in the United States. 🌟 The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame in the Keough School of Global Affairs has expanded its Peace Accords Matrix (PAM) program with funding from the U.S. Department of State. 🏢 An NSF grant will allow researchers in the Notre Dame School of Architecture to develop an integrated ecological-technological framework and visualize the embodied carbon emission and related environmental impact from the building stock in the United States at the ZIP code level. 💼 The undergraduate Business Honors program in the University of Notre Dame - Mendoza College of Business keeps working to train ethical business leaders and investigate the moral purpose of business. Continue discovering: https://lnkd.in/edXmA6xw Story by Brett Beasley Photo by Matt Cashore

Summer days at the Notre Dame Center for Research Computing (CRC) ☀ From introducing high school students to computational resources to supporting undergraduates' research into digital democracy and blockchain, we have been training the next generation of problem-solvers. Read our August newsletter to learn about the novel ideas these students pursued, the ways our community has grown, new guidance on using Apptainer, and an upcoming workshop to kick off the academic year. 🗓 https://lnkd.in/gt2_fBzT