Award Abstract #0320875
Acquisition of a High Performance Parallel Computing Cluster for the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics and Computer Science at Clark University

NSF Org:	DBI Division of Biological Infrastructure
Initial Amendment Date:	July 28, 2003
Latest Amendment Date:	July 28, 2003
Award Number:	0320875
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Helen G. Hansma DBI Division of Biological Infrastructure BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	August 1, 2003
Expires:	July 31, 2006 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$190000
Investigator(s):	David Hibbett dhibbett@clarku.edu (Principal Investigator) Harvey Gould (Co-Principal Investigator) Rafael Bruschweiler (Co-Principal Investigator) Li Han (Co-Principal Investigator) Shuanghong Huo (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	Clark University 950 MAIN ST WORCESTER, MA 01610 508/793-7765
NSF Program(s):	MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
Field Application(s):
Program Reference Code(s):	BIOT, 9184
Program Element Code(s):	1189

ABSTRACT



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 High

Performance Parallel Computing Cluster for the Departments of Biology, Chemistry,

Physics, and Mathematics and Computer Science of Clark University". The proposed

project involves the development of a shared computational faculty for the natural

science 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.

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