As a world-class initiative, the AWM Science City projects realise this and hence propose to invest in a common essential and dedicated IT infrastructure to support the science across all themes. Consequently applications from candidates with scientific computing expertise are welcome for the SCRA research fellowships. Such candidates should indicate how they could immerse themselves within one or more of the Science City themes of Advanced Materials, Energy Futures and Translational Medicine whilst retaining a distinct profile due to their scientific computing activites.. It will be highly desirable to build an research profile, straddling 2 or all 3 of the Science City themes, as well as keeping a keen eye on the possibilities emerging from the new collaborative work at Birmingham and Warwick. Particular areas of computational strengths at the two Universities are modelling and high-performance computing, data mining, optimisation and visualisation. The SCRA research fellows would be expected to use and enhance their skills in one or more of these areas to contribute to the work of the Science City themes.
Further information can be provided by email to the Midlands Alliance in Research Computing, MARC@warwick.ac.uk and MARC@lists.bham.ac.uk or by directly contacting the named academics in the list below:
Rudolf Roemer*, Centre for Scientific Computing Julie Staunton*, Department of Physics, University of Warwick. High-Performance Computing, Multiscale modelling. Materials modelling. Computational Science.
Stephen Decent*, School of Mathematics, University of Birmingham. Modelling of fuel cells and modelling in medicine. Numerical analysis.
Jon Rowe* and Georgios Theodoropoulos*, School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham. Simulation. Data Mining. Optimization.
Available Infrastructure
Computational modelling is the part of the sciences that has experienced the most rapid growth in the last decade. With the availability of large scale computational resources, a new way of studying the properties of matter, of predicting the behaviour of new substances and of validating statistical hypotheses became available. Hence, in support of their scientific pursuits, the SCRA researchers will have available as computational infrastructure a memory-rich, high-performance computer cluster designed for the computing needs of the 3 AWM themes Materials, Energy and Medicine. The cluster, to be housed at the University of Warwick, will be augmented with a dedicated large storage and archive facility, most of which will be located at the University of Birmingham. All facilities will be available to both Birmingham and Warwick users. We envisage that cluster to consist of at least 768 compute CPUs with 24 GB per node and low latency communication network. In addition, a further 384 cores will form an Ethernet cluster with 8 GB per node, i.e. a task farm component. There will be 50 Terabyte high performance cluster file storage for quick and efficient storage of large data runs, as well as 50 TB TIER1 high capacity storage for data analysis results (University of Warwick) and 200 TB TIER2 high capacity storage for safe and secure storage of data results (University of Birmingham), interlinked with TIER1 storage via a dedicated JANET light-path. Tape backup and archive infrastructure will safeguard for the long term the large amount of data which will be generated by the research themes over the lifetime of the Science City initiative. This infrastructure will be available in addition to the already very good facilities provided at both universities and associated with, nationally leading research centres such as the Centre for Scientific Computing at Warwick and the CERSIA centre of excellence at Birmingham.
Quick and efficient communication tools are essential for any collaborative initiative. The Universities of Warwick and Birmingham will invest in upgrades to their existing network infrastructure to enable fast digital communication across their local Science City themes as well as between their respective campuses. A "Research Collaboration Infrastructure" to allow for easy, remote, access to shared data and collaborative file-store will help coordinate workflow and promote joint research and development between the Universities of Warwick and Birmingham and also other private and public sector collaborators. Video conferencing via AGN Technology, both at the University of Warwick (Two AGN suites) and University of Birmingham (Three AGN Suites) as well as at any other AGN enabled institution or company. Additional physical infrastructure (network ports and switches) will enable the computer hardware to interact quickly across all locations on campus and between the Universities of Warwick and Birmingham.
Computing infrastructure requires staff to maintain and run the technical facilities - these roles will also encompass assisting businesses and other collaborators in the use of highly complex, but invaluable, facilities. This project includes a project manager, 2 computer officers as well as 4 research technologists. Their task is to install, maintain, upgrade and update the infrastructure as well as to help the diverse set of users make the best use of the facilities. In addition, the PM will maintain the links to industry. The technologists can help the businesses in the region develop and nurture their computational strategy and help them solve meaningful problems by engaging fully with the AWM Science City IT infrastructure.
Examples of research areas where applications from potential Fellows would be welcome include:
Multiscale Modelling
Research would support a range of experimental programmes in the Advanced Materials themes AM1 "Creating and Characterising Next Generation Advanced Materials" and AM2 "Nano and Molecular Materials for the Modern World", as well as the "Hydrogen storage methodology and characterisation" area of the Hydrogen Energy theme.
Computational Science
This would aim to bridge the gap between high level numerical and mathematical analysis and the application of high performance computers to large-scale cutting-edge computation associated with the Science City themes.
Data Mining and Optimization
This IT theme area would support a range of experimental programmes in the "Translational Medicine" and "Clinical Trials" themes as well as the "Energy Efficiency" theme.
* Please do not apply to the individuals listed above. To apply click here and follow instructions