Responding to a critical need for advanced training in computational aspects of high energy physics, a consortium of six large western research universities will partner strategically with world-class computing centers and national laboratories to train graduate students in topical areas of greatest need. The training program will include a tailored hands-on curriculum and cutting-edge training projects with university and laboratory computing experts. Students who have completed the 2-year program will be well prepared to contribute to scientific computing workforce in the DOE HEP mission.
The project team has expertise in a wide range of computing topics. Some members have developed novel curricular materials for diverse graduate student cohorts in computing, others have led large computing projects for DOE science experiments, and all are currently engaged in relevant R&D projects that lend themselves to this initiative. Through the team members, students will have access to state-of-the-art computing facilities with the latest hardware accelerators and storage systems.
A key aspect of the program is trainee cohort selection and education, with the goal of forming a cohort of student ambassadors who will guide the rest of the community. We will advertise broadly within the partner university programs to ensure a demographically and scientifically diverse group of applicants. Student selections will be balanced so that the cohort has access to training projects from all three topical areas across the HEP frontiers. Online training modules on advanced topics will be developed to complement existing computer science courses. An annual summer school will provide an opportunity for and for activities to strengthen relationships within the cohort. The program also includes required training in oral and written communication, responsible research conduct. The formal curriculum is complemented by a mentored development project on an advanced topic from one of the topical areas. The goal is for students to work through the entire lifecycle of a project. The program will be assessed each year to provide feedback on training effectiveness.
This training program for computational high energy physics will complement existing graduate programs by focusing on advanced topics and opportunities. By the end of the 5-year program, a new cohort of HEP computing ambassadors will be ready to contribute to the science community and the DOE scientific workforce.
