Research Computing
About Research Computing
What is Research Computing?
Research Computing refers to the specialized infrastructure, software, and expertise
that enable advanced computational and data-driven research across disciplines.
In Depth
Research Computing is the term used for the people, infrastructure, services, and
expertise that enable computation and data-intensive endeavors across disciplines.
This includes, but goes well beyond, “running jobs on a cluster.”
Advanced Computational Infrastructure
Research Computing supports an array of resources that enable computational research.
- High-Performance Computing (HPC) clusters for large-scale simulations and high throughput computing
- Data-intensive platforms for large scientific datasets
- Accelerators (GPUs, specialized hardware)
- Research storage and high-speed networking
- Support for research-funded infrastructure (configuration, power, cooling, security)
This infrastructure enables simulations and workloads that cannot be reasonably performed
on desktops or standard IT systems.
Research-Specific Software
Researchers rely on a wide range of specialized and often custom software environments.
- Compilers, math libraries, MPI, CUDA
- Domain-specific scientific codes
- Data formats such as HDF5
- Workflow tools and schedulers
- User-created and open-source research software
Researcher-Facing Services and Expertise
Research Computing provides both technical infrastructure and human expertise to support
research.
- Consulting on performance, scaling, and parallelization
- Guidance on computational methods
- Support for reproducibility and workflows
- Advising on data management and compliance
- Training for faculty, postdocs, and students
Research Computing operates as a service organization supporting the broader research
mission across disciplines.
Enabling Research Across Disciplines
- STEM fields (physics, chemistry, engineering, earth science)
- Life sciences (biology, genomics, neuroscience)
- Financial sciences (market analysis)
- Social sciences (large-scale simulations, network models)
- Digital humanities (text analysis, image processing)
Research Computing supports a broad and diverse set of computational models rather
than focusing on a single discipline.
Governance, Security, and Sustainability
- Fair-share allocation policies
- Compliance with funding and security requirements
- Long-term infrastructure planning
- Secure participation in national and international research ecosystems
Research computing environments operate under different constraints and standards
than enterprise IT systems.
Research Computing vs General IT
| General IT | Research Computing |
|---|---|
| Email, ERP, desktops | HPC, computation and data-intensive platforms |
| Standardized software | Highly customized research software |
| Predictable workloads | Bursty, experimental workloads |
| Service stability focus | Research enablement focus |
These distinctions are why Research Computing is typically treated as a separate function
from central IT, even when organizationally adjacent.