1 of 34

Jeff Whitworth

Cloud CyberInfrastructure Innovation Lab

2 of 34

About UNCG

R2 RESEARCH INSTITUTION

20,000+ STUDENTS

CENTRALIZED IT MODEL

3 of 34

How do we enable sustainable adoption of cloud infrastructure within research and the classroom across the entire University?

4 of 34

How did we get here?

  • In 2017, an IT guy and faculty from Computer Science, Information Systems, Economics and Statistics walk into the Provost’s board room….
    • Emerging Masters in Data Science and Informatics
    • New faculty eager to research Big Data
    • Concern about speed and ability to create CyberInfrastructure
  • Cloud becomes the focus to solve challenges, just not sure how

​

5 of 34

Classroom Offerings

  • Similar programs:
    • Free tier
    • Annual credits
    • Different strings attached
    • Varying application process
    • Geared towards teaching how to use cloud
  • Faculty Reality
    • Scared off because of early experiences
    • “Looks like it takes a lot of effort”

​

6 of 34

Research Offerings

  • Application for credits:
    • Per project
    • Undefined review process
    • Requires estimation
    • Credit Expiration
    • No requirements on the backend
  • Faculty
    • Unclear delivery and “getting started” process
    • Not sure how much to estimate

​

​

7 of 34

Common Elements

  • Credits awarded directly to the faculty
  • No requirements of showing results
  • No incentive to become sustainable
  • Requires platform expertise by the researcher
  • Bypass business and/or technical processes

8 of 34

What Faculty Say

  • Which service do I use?
  • What if the program changes/goes away?
  • I’m not using my credit card!
  • I’m not telling my students to use their credit card!
  • I don’t know what I need.
  • I can’t keep up with the pace of change.
  • I don’t know where to start.

9 of 34

Scenarios

aka familiar stories

10 of 34

“I was awarded a big credit!”

11 of 34

“I couldn’t figure out how to delegate permissions, so we just share my account.”

12 of 34

“I applied a credit on my personal account.”

13 of 34

“I got a credit 6 months ago.”

14 of 34

“My grad student just used all my credits by accident.”

15 of 34

“My credit is about to expire but not my project!”

16 of 34

“Can you help?”

17 of 34

What if…

  • Researchers could leverage knowledge of the IT staff already building cloud infrastructure?
  • Cloud providers worked with IT?
  • The University influenced who received credits?
  • Credit awards actually had to produce open results?
  • Faculty had a safe way to test the waters?

18 of 34

CI2 Lab

(2018 initial concept)

19 of 34

Initial Concept

  • Funded by central IT - $25,000
  • Included engineering support
  • Design and actual costs published
  • A clearinghouse for all University cloud infrastructure
  • Larger than just academic

20 of 34

Mission:

​

​

“To develop innovative and sustainable frameworks for using cloud infrastructure to advance research, pedagogy and scalable cyberinfrastructure at UNCG.”

21 of 34

Initial Concept

22 of 34

Faculty Feedback

  • Unsure how to estimate costs
  • Want something less transactional
  • Why not create a research lab faculty can be a part of?

23 of 34

CCI Lab

(2019)

24 of 34

Current State

  • Academic focused
  • ITS + partner funding
  • Faculty apply to join the lab – the lab is a collaboration
  • ITS provides engineering assistance
  • Developing “planned” and “actual” design and cost templates
  • Bring resources to the faculty
  • Lab approved Fall 2019

25 of 34

Key Elements

  1. Provides participants with cloud infrastructure in support of their research projects
  2. Publishes reference whitepapers that demonstrate reproducible examples
  3. Assists faculty to better understand the cost impact of using cloud infrastructure
  4. Facilitates faculty and staff learning opportunities from cloud partners
  5. Seeks funding opportunities for cloud cyberinfrastructure

26 of 34

University Strategic Goals

Sustainability

Advance Research

Innovation

Student Success

27 of 34

Sustainability

​

​

The lab provides a safe experience to faculty to learn operating costs associated with cloud cyberinfrastructure and supports the transition from capex to opex cost models when appropriate while leveraging discounted purchasing and external grant opportunities.

​

28 of 34

Advance Research

​

The lab enables researchers to focus on the research and not the technology infrastructure while providing reusable frameworks for cloud architecture. Cloud cyberinfrastructure provides access to computing resources that greatly exceed on-campus capabilities without requiring upfront capital investment.

​

29 of 34

Innovation

​

​

The lab explores new ways to use cutting edge cloud cyberinfrastructure in research and in the classroom and provides rapid access to new technologies.

30 of 34

Student Success

​

​

The lab enables the use of cloud cyberinfrastructure in the classroom providing students with experience using modern computing platforms and limitless computing capabilities through the guidance of faculty.

31 of 34

Early Projects

  • JupyterHub Cluster
  • Cyber Range
  • Data Science Lab

32 of 34

What’s Next

  • Continue working with cloud partners for credits
  • Hiring a dedicated engineer
  • Future inclusion in grant proposals
    • FTE %
    • CCI Lab Services
  • Seeking grant funding for the lab

​

33 of 34

Questions?

34 of 34