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UNM receives $1.5 million to support computational workforce development

May 8, 2023

In the state of New Mexico, there is a pressing need for effective training in the fields of computational and data science at all levels of education, from undergraduate to professional. This need is driven not only by the increasing demand for skilled professionals in these fields nationwide, but also by the unique requirements of the national laboratories located in the state, including Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Air Force Research Laboratories.

Despite this growing demand for experts in computational science, data science, and high-performance computing (HPC), there is a shortage of well-trained applicants for these positions in New Mexico. UNM requested funds from Congress to address this critical need in the state and were successful in having $1.5 million allocated as part of the Congressionally Directed Community Project Funds in the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2023 (Appropriations Act). The university then had to submit an application to the Department of Education, who awarded the funds as a grant spanning two years. The principal investigator for the project is Computer Science Professor and Director of the Center for Advanced Research Computing Patrick Bridges.

The project focuses on the development of effective training programs and management strategies that will ensure that students and professionals are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to succeed in computational and data science.

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