We are proud to present the 2021-22 Ohio Supercomputer Center Research Report. Download the report to read it in PDF format, or browse the articles on the web by clicking on each story.
Download the 2021-22 OSC Research Report (PDF)
Stories
Classroom Learning
Professor builds Ohio State course around research using OSC
Immune-Engineering
Researchers use deep neural networks to predict transcription factor binding
Web Portals
Open OnDemand aids engineering school’s supercomputing curriculum
Computational Chemistry
Scientists discover why some molecular mutations make COVID-19 more contagious
Product Design
Cotty Fay Marine Design uses HPC resources to study product performance, impact
Data Archives
Finding solutions for long-term research data storage needs
Artificial Intelligence
Natural language processing makes sense of vast volume of content
Precision Medicine
Karyopharm Therapeutics scientists search for biomarkers to yield targeted patient treatments
Engineering Innovations
Researchers examine pipeline corrosion at the molecular level
Director's Letter
When the Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) contemplated the name for its newest high performance computing (HPC) cluster, we chose a word that reflected not only Ohio’s history of innovation, but its future aspirations. “Ascend” references the state’s track record of aviation and space breakthroughs while also capturing the optimism and ambition of the researchers, inventors and educators making advancements in the Buckeye State.
Launched in fall 2022, Ascend is OSC’s first computing cluster devoted entirely to intensive graphics processing unit (GPU) work. The Dell Technologies-based HPC cluster with advanced NVIDIA GPUs can support the growing research fields of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data and data analytics in Ohio and beyond. We are pleased to offer this cutting-edge resource to our academic communities and commercial clients and look forward to watching your successes with it.
As the OSC staff initiated the new computing cluster, we also were excited to learn about Intel’s $20 billion commitment to build one of the world’s largest microchip manufacturing complexes in nearby Licking County, Ohio. We have been working with Intel closely for years to advance HPC.
Intel processors have been used in 13 supercomputer clusters, including 3,020 processors actively in use in the Owens and Pitzer clusters. The two organizations conducted joint case studies on Open OnDemand, the Center’s open-source HPC web portal employed around the world. OSC also has worked with Intel on multiple test and pilot projects and has welcomed keynote speakers from the company at OSC Statewide User Group (SUG) conferences.
As workforce development is a core principle for OSC, we are well positioned to support the training of Ohioans in the semiconductor technologies that will be the focus of Intel’s manufacturing complex, which is expected to employ 3,000 workers.
In addition to the Ascend and Intel projects, there are many other reasons why 2022 has been a productive and dynamic year for OSC. As you will learn from this year’s Research Report, OSC has attracted National Science Foundation (NSF) funding to support more cyberinfrastructure services and artificial intelligence training. We have bolstered our data archive and disaster recovery offerings. And researchers and innovators across the state and nation—from small companies to public and private universities—are continuing to make great discoveries and product developments with the aid of OSC’s supercomputing resources.
Whether you are a prospective, new or existing client, OSC has many services and resources that can help you advance your work. We invite you to read more about our offerings in this year’s Research Report, and you are always welcome to reach out to us directly to learn more about how we can collaborate.
David E. Hudak
Executive Director
2021–22 Highlights
AI Bootcamps
With support from the NSF, OSC began hosting a series of free workshops to better prepare cyberinfrastructure professionals to provide computing and data services to a growing number of artificial intelligence research users. The 2022 bootcamps covered topics such as data science, machine learning, neural networks, Bayesian modeling, software and data.
Storage and Disaster Recovery
OSC has updated its project and global scratch service storage system to increase total capacity and performance. The Center also completed the development of a new disaster recovery location in Cleveland for data storage, which is a physical twin of the Columbus tape library.
Creating ACCESS to Cyberinfrastructure
OSC is collaborating on a five-year, $10 million NSF-funded initiative, led by the University of Colorado Boulder, to reimagine cyberinfrastructure user support services and delivery to keep pace with the evolving needs of academic scientific researchers. The initiative is part of the NSF’s Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services and Support (ACCESS) program.
