70%
Growth in Research Funding
Over the past decade
AAU
Member Institution
Recognized for research excellence
HSI
Hispanic Serving Institution
1 of only 4 in the AAU
The University of California, Riverside is at a pivotal moment. With remarkable growth and prestigious recognition, we are poised to address the next frontier of scientific discovery. To do so, we must invest in a holistic, campus-wide cyberinfrastructure. This document outlines three synergistic, high-impact proposal options for the NSF CSSI "Framework Implementations" grant.
UCR's Three-Tenet CI Strategy
Platform
Foundational infrastructure to streamline data and computational tasks.
Portal
A one-stop center for researchers to discover and harness resources.
Enablement
Holistic training and mentorship to uplift researchers and students.
Option 1: AI-Optimized Cyberinfrastructure
Establish a robust CI foundation for AI/ML by deploying an on-premises GPU cluster, a shared Ceph data fabric, and implementing modern DevOps practices like containerization and Infrastructure as Code (IaC).
Proposed Budget Allocation by Area
Key Stakeholders & Co-PIs:
- **Amit Roy Chowdhury, PhD** (Robotics)
- **Bir Bhanu, PhD** (Computer Vision)
- **Ahmed Eldawy, PhD** (Big Data)
- **Sika Zheng, PhD** (Bioinformatics)
Option 2: Network Modernization
Address the critical bottleneck of "aging, end-of-life" network gear by upgrading to a 400G backbone and 100G connections, enabling massive data movement for all data-intensive research.
Network Capacity Upgrade
Key Stakeholders & Co-PIs:
- **David Oglesby, PhD** (Geophysics)
- **Laura Sales, PhD** (Astrophysics)
- **Jason Stajich, PhD** (Genomics)
Option 3: Workforce Enablement
A human-centered initiative leveraging UCR's unique HSI status to broaden participation in STEM through training, mentorship, and dedicated support, creating the next generation of CI creators.
UCR's Unique Position in the AAU
Key Stakeholders & Co-PIs:
- **Thomas Girke, PhD** (HPCC Director)
- **Joseph Kahne, PhD** (School of Education)
- **S. Venkatadriagaram, PhD** (Teaching Prof.)
A Unified, Synergistic Approach
While each option is powerful, the most competitive strategy is a unified **Frameworks Implementation** proposal that integrates all three. A modernized network is the foundation for a powerful AI platform, and a comprehensive enablement program ensures this investment is fully realized by a diverse and skilled research community.
This integrated vision directly addresses UCR's strategic needs, national priorities, and the core goals of the NSF CSSI program.