The Vagelos Computational Science Center (CSC) is excited to announce funding for computational projects for Barnard faculty and instructors. These mini-grants are designed to support endeavors that harness self-managed software or computational resources, enabling faculty and instructors to take full advantage of modern technological tools for their research and teaching needs. Information on applying for these grants is below.

Funding Opportunities

The program provides funding for cloud-based or self-managed software or computational resources needed to carry out research and educational projects. Grant proposals can request up to $2,000, to be used by the end of May 2024. We expect that the program will continue and that we will provide opportunities for additional funding requests for future and ongoing projects.  Potential uses for the funds include the following:

General Computational Solutions

We are open to supporting any cloud-based, managed service or self-managed computational solution that faculty are familiar with, even if we aren’t currently aware of it. We can also fund hardware, but faculty and instructors must manage procurement, setup, and troubleshooting themselves.

GPU-Accelerated Cloud Computing

Targeted at projects that need enhanced GPU-accelerated computational power, this option supports applications involving graphics, simulations, and large datasets. GPUs can significantly boost performance in processes involving data visualization, machine learning, and simulation tasks. Possible tools include (but are not limited to): 

• Google Colab Pro+
• Paperspace Notebooks
• Lambda Labs Cloud
• Deepnote
• Runpod.io

Managed Database/Storage Services

This option is for people seeking robust and scalable storage solutions. Whether it's structured data needing SQL databases, flexible storage through NoSQL, or object storage, this option covers a range of cloud-based storage options. These tools can facilitate efficient data storage, retrieval, and analysis, which is crucial for research fields that handle vast amounts of data. Examples include: 

• Managed SQL database instances on major cloud providers (e.g.,GCP, AWS, Digital Ocean)
• Object storage
• NoSQL or Key-Value storage

Technical Support 

• Consultations: The CSC can offer high-level guidance on computational strategies – for example, suggesting a potential SQL schema for a given project.
• Tools: We can also offer guidance on tool selection and specific software best suited to your research and teaching needs.
• Note: We are not able to provide regular technical support or system administration.

Deadline

Proposals received by March 31, 2024 will receive priority consideration. We operate on a rolling deadline, so subsequent proposals can be submitted after this date and will be reviewed periodically as long as funds remain.

Eligibility

•  Faculty
• Adjunct professors
• Instructors

Grant Requirements

Grant recipients are required to provide the CSC with ongoing information about their projects and to acknowledge the support as appropriate. Recipients must:

• Provide an annual written report on their project progress or outcomes.
• Have an annual check-in with CSC Technical Manager Marko Krkeljas or CSC Senior Associate Director Saima Akhtar regarding their project.
• Acknowledge CSC support in resulting publications and presentations.

Application

•  Link to application form
• If you’re unsure about the most suitable tools or resources for your project, please consult with Marko Krkeljas at mkrkelja@barnard.edu or Saima Akhtar at sakhtar@barnard.edu before submitting your application.

Selection Process

Proposals will be evaluated by an evaluation committee consisting of CSC Technical Manager Marko Krkeljas and CSC Senior Associate Director Saima Akhtar, and may be shared with other CSC faculty and staff.

Proposals will be evaluated according the following criteria:

1. Alignment with the mini-grant’s goal to support projects using computational resources, enabling faculty and instructors to leverage modern technology in research and teaching.
2. The direct and tangible impact the mini-grant will have on advancing the project.