Ewa Deelman and student Raja Allmdar Tariq Ali at SuperComputing24. Photo credit: CI Compass
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) funds some of the most advanced scientific infrastructure in the United States, spanning domains from astrology and oceanography to physics and climate science. For young professionals, a job at one of these sites, known as NSF Major Facilities, offers the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research with real-world impact.
However, many students are unaware of this exciting career path. This lack of awareness often leaves NSF Major Facilities struggling to find qualified technical specialists.
Recognizing this gap, Ewa Deelman, a research director at USC Viterbi’s Information Sciences Institute (ISI), spearheaded the creation of the CI Compass Fellowship (CICF) Program in 2022. The initiative, part of CI Compass, an NSF Center of Excellence to strengthen the national cyberinfrastructure ecosystem, introduces undergraduates to the critical role of data and computing systems in advancing scientific discovery.
“Nurturing the next generation of researchers and research software engineers is critical to pushing science forward,” Deelman said.
While many undergraduate computer science students are familiar with career paths at big tech companies like Google and Facebook, or roles in software development and UX design, few are aware of possibilities in cyberinfrastructure.
Yet, according to Deelman, cyberinfrastructure underpins most of today’s scientific discoveries, from developing new materials to understanding causes of diseases. CICF shows students how their computing skills can be applied to solve complex scientific challenges, and potentially a research career.
Now in its fourth year, CICF consists of two key components designed with undergraduate students in mind: a 12-week virtual spring training and a competitive 10-week summer internship.
The spring program, free for undergraduate students from any U.S. college or university, covers both technical skills and an introduction to the data lifecycle at major facilities. Curriculum topics, many of which draw directly from ISI’s expertise, range from Python programming and cloud computing to professional communications and networking skills.
The program was initially piloted with USC computer science students, allowing the team to fine-tune the curriculum based on student feedback. Summer internships at ISI provided further insights into structuring the program effectively.
Today, select fellowship students progress to the summer program, where they’re placed at NSF major facilities or cyberinfrastructure-related institutions. This experience has been the highlight for many students.
Raymond James Gallant, a 2024 fellow from Eastern New Mexico University, gained invaluable experience working on a summer project at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research. “The program gave me an overview of the different technologies used at NSF Major Facilities and allowed me to spend the summer engaging with these technologies hands-on,” he said. “It has made a significant impact on my future.”
Looking ahead, the CI Compass team aims to secure more summer internship spots and make their educational materials available to a broader audience, including those not admitted to the program.
Raising awareness around cyberinfrastructure among young scientists is crucial for both workforce development at NSF facilities and for opening up unexpected and rewarding career paths for undergraduate students.
“We’re doing long term thinking,” said Nicole Virdone, ISI’s research program administrator for CICF. “Let’s develop these CS majors into people that can go into these sorts of places and be able to thrive.”
Published on December 16th, 2024
Last updated on December 16th, 2024
