Argonne Leadership Computing Facility Lighthouse Initiative: Large-Scale HPC Access for UIC Researchers
HPC Access for UIC Researchers
parnership
“The Lighthouse Initiative is a very exciting partnership that provides a path for UIC researchers from ACER to ALCF and access to leading-edge supercomputing resources,” said TJ Augustine, vice chancellor of innovation at UIC
What is the Lighthouse Initiative?
The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) Lighthouse Initiative provides a structured pathway for UIC researchers to access and prepare for large-scale computing on Argonne systems. Through this partnership, ACER serves as the local entry point for faculty and research groups interested in running workloads on ALCF resources such as Polaris and Aurora.
ACER works with research teams to evaluate computational readiness, prepare applications for GPU-accelerated and distributed environments, and support projects that are candidates for larger ALCF allocations.
Through this initiative, ACER provides:
- Application assessment, porting, and scaling support for ALCF systems
- A Lighthouse allocation on ALCF resources for qualified projects
- Tier 1 technical support during the initial project phase
- Guidance for transitioning projects to larger allocation programs (e.g., INCITE, ALCC, Director’s Discretionary)
- Training workshops coordinated with Argonne staff
- Information about ALCF-related student internship opportunities
Himanshu quote
“Our university investments through ACER programs such as Chicago Computes, Secure Computing Environments, and HPC Partnership bring computing, data, and AI resources to the UIC research community. This Lighthouse initiative provides a new pathway for the UIC community to gain access to expertise and world-class resources at ALCF. Through these investments and partnerships, UIC leadership is committed to advancing science through computing, data, and AI.” said Himanshu Sharma, Associate CIO for Research Technologies and Innovation, Technology Solutions
ALCF Systems Available Through Lighthouse
The Lighthouse Initiative supports projects running on the following Argonne Leadership Computing Facility systems. Detailed technical documentation is available through ALCF.
The Lighthouse Initiative will be supporting applications running on the following ALCF systems:
- Aurora: Argonne’s exascale system designed for large-scale simulation, data-intensive workflows, and GPU-accelerated applications. (learn more).
- Polaris: A GPU-based system used for AI workloads, large-scale data processing, and application scaling prior to larger allocations. (ALCF Documentation).
AI Testbed Systems: These specialized systems are designed to support the development and testing of advanced AI models and machine learning applications, providing the infrastructure to accelerate AI research and experimentation. (ALCF AI Testbed)
- Graphcore: AI-focused architecture supporting machine learning models with irregular or sparse data structures. (insideHPC).
- Sambanova: Reconfigurable dataflow architecture supporting large machine learning workloads. (SambaNova).
- Groq: Accelerator-based AI system available through the ALCF AI Testbed. (Groq at ALCF)
- Cerebras: Wafer-scale system used for large language model training and long-context workloads. (Cerebras).
How UIC researchers will benefit from the ALCF’s Lighthouse Initiative?
- Access to Advanced Resources:
UIC researchers will access ALCF’s high-performance computing systems, including Aurora and Polaris, enabling them to tackle complex problems and conduct large-scale simulations and data analysis. - Training and Support:
ACER and ALCF staff will provide tailored support, including onboarding workshops and dedicated assistance to ensure researchers are well-prepared to use these systems. - Collaboration Opportunities:
The initiative fosters collaboration between UIC and leading institutions, enhancing research and driving innovation through shared knowledge and expertise. - Scalable Research:
With ALCF’s powerful GPU resources, UIC researchers can scale projects to new levels, making significant strides in scientific discovery and computational modeling. - Talent Development:
Internship opportunities help develop the next generation of skilled computing professionals, strengthening the workforce for future advancements in computational research. - Strategic Positioning:
The Lighthouse Initiative enhances UIC’s reputation and positions it as a leader in HPC-driven research.
Call for Proposals
For more information please contact us at acer@uic.edu