The current status of Thor is: UP
Between Theorems - Jim Dolan. With permission
Mission.
The Center for High Performance Computing and Big Data houses a high performance cluster installed in 2012 with funding from
the National Science Foundation, to support interdisciplinary projects in computational science and
engineering.
The cluster provides a unique resource as a hybrid computing environment for distributed computations
between nodes, multi-threading within individual nodes and massively parallel computations on graphics
processor cores.
Target work on the cluster includes basic computer science research with parallel algorithm
development and implementations, and furthermore projects in high energy physics, composite
materials research, carbon nanotubes modeling, computational fluid dynamics, flexible body aerodynamics,
and chemistry simulations for modeling the nature of chemical bonding and for a computational study
of enzymatic catalysis. High performance computing also permeates many facets of education.
Conforming with WMU's mission as a learner-centered university, the Center infrastructure can set the
stage for developments in high performance computing education and training at the institution, by facilitating training on
cutting-edge computing facilities across multiple departments in the CEAS and CAS colleges,
and by engaging student participation in the daily operation and maintenance of the system.
Vision.
The cluster has the potential of putting Western Michigan University on the map in terms of supercomputing.
It enables its researchers to make progress in solving new prevalent computing challenges.
While the cluster provides a common ground for research endeavors, it leads to collaborations on publications
and grant proposals, not only among the PIs but also with other departments and colleges at WMU,
as well as other institutions, universities and enterprises.
Interdisciplinary cooperation may furthermore result in the emergence of new, hybrid technologies and collaborations with industry.
With help of its education activities, the new infrastructure will play a positive role in student recruitment
including women and under-represented groups. It will present opportunities for training
and lead to the creation of new courses. The project will provide research and training experiences for graduate and
undergraduate students using a leading-edge facility.
Faculty
Elise H.J. de Doncker, Computer Science - elise [dot] dedoncker [at] wmich [dot] edu
John A. Kapenga, Computer Science (retired)
Peter A. Gustafson, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
William W. Liou, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Joseph W. McKean, Statistics (retired)
Dewei Qi, Chemical and Paper Engineering
Paul Dan Fleming, Chemical and Paper Engineering (retired)