HPC Call for Participation
Students Invited to Attend XSEDE13
Multiple ways for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students to get involved
Application Deadlines - March 29- April 12, 2013 (various deadlines)
Students interested or engaged in computational research are encouraged to attend and participate in the Student Program at XSEDE13, the annual conference focused on science, education, outreach, software, and technology related to the National Science Foundation’s eXtreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment. For more information on the numerous ways that you can participate, please visit https://www.xsede.org/web/xsede13/students..
The 2013 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining (ASONAM 2013) – Call for Participation
August 25-28, 2013 - Niagara Falls, Canada
Abstract Submission Deadline - April 8, 2013
Full paper Submission Deadline - April 15, 2013
The international conference on Advances in Social Network Analysis and Mining (ASONAM 2013) will primarily provide an interdisciplinary venue that will bring together practitioners and researchers from a variety of SNAM fields to promote collaborations and exchange of ideas and practices. ASONAM 2013 is intended to address important aspects with a specific focus on the emerging trends and industry needs associated with social networking analysis and mining. The conference solicits experimental and theoretical works on social network analysis and mining along with their application to real life situations. For more information and submission guidelines, please visit http://asonam.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/index.php.
Virtual School – Call for Participation Sites
The Virtual School of Computational Science and Engineering is looking forward to another successful summer school program providing graduate students, post-docs and young professionals the skills they need to use advanced computational resources to further their research. Exciting courses include, Big Data Summer School, Proven Algorithmic Techniques for Many-core Processors and 1-2 day smaller events being offered through one of a kind high-definition videoconferencing delivered simultaneously nation-wide. Please review the site requirements at http://www.vscse.org/callforsites.html and contact the VSCSE Project Team at info@vscse.org if your site is interested in participating in this year's exciting summer school.
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops.
The Fourth International Green Computing Conference (IGCC13)
June 27-29, 2013 - Arlington, Virginia
IGCC13 will provide a forum for presenting and discussing innovative research on a broad range of topics in the fields of sustainable and energy-efficient computing, and computing for a more sustainable planet. The conference will hold a technical program, panels, workshops, and tutorials on these topics. IGCC13 will be technically co-sponsored by the IEEE. For complete workshop information, please visit http://cm.wsu.edu/ehome/index.php?eventid=51862&.
Extreme Scaling Workshop
August 15-16, 2013 – Boulder, Colorado
The NSF funded Blue Waters and eXtreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) projects are hosting the seventh in a series of Extreme Scaling workshops. Scientists, engineers, scholars, and high-performance technologists from colleges, universities, laboratories, industry, HPC centers, and other organizations conducting related to this type of work are encouraged to submit presentations. Workshop proceedings will be produced that will include the accepted papers and white papers and a summary of recommendations from the discussions among the presenters and participants. Send submissions to Scott Lathrop at lathrop@illinois.edu by May 15, 2013. Notice of acceptances will be issued by June 1, 2013. Further information on this year's Extreme Scaling Workshop can be found at https://www.xsede.org/web/xscale/xscale13.
IEEE International Conference on High Performance Computing (HiPC)
December 18 - 21, 2013 - Hyderabad, India
The 20th annual IEEE International Conference on High Performance Computing (HiPC 2013) will be held in Hyderabad, India. It will serve as a forum to present the current work by researchers from around the world. HiPC 2013 will focus on the design and analysis of high performance computing and networking systems and their scientific, engineering, and commercial applications. For more information, please visit http://www.hipc.org/hipc2013/index.php.
Research Features From Across the Country and Around the World
Can Computers Save Health Care? Indiana University Research Shows Lower Costs, Better Outcomes
IU News Room
Indiana University researchers have found that machine learning can improve both the cost and quality of health care in the United States. The researchers used an artificial intelligence framework combining Markov Decision Processes and Dynamic Decision Networks to show how simulation modeling that understands and predicts the outcomes of treatments can reduce health care costs by more than 50 percent while also improving patient outcomes by almost 50 percent. "The Markov Decision Processes and Dynamic Decision Networks enable the system to deliberate about the future, considering all the different possible sequences of actions and effects in advance, even in cases where we are unsure of the effects," says Indiana Ph.D. student Casey Bennett. The research addresses the rising costs of health care, the decreasing quality of care, and a lag time of as much as 17 years between research and practice in clinical care. To read further, please visit http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/23795.html.
Solving Big-Data Bottleneck
Harvard Medicine
Commercial crowdsourcing platforms can solve massive computational problems more quickly and inexpensively than traditional approaches and benefit from the input of contributors from different economic sectors, according to a study from Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, and London Business School. The team used the TopCoder crowdsourcing platform to develop a program that analyzes huge volumes of data from genes and gene mutations that form antibodies and T cell receptors. Predicting the immune system's genetic combinations has long been an imposing challenge, but the crowdsourcing efforts resulted in a program with greater accuracy and speed than existing algorithms. Using TopCoder crowdsourcing, the researchers had to reframe the problem to enable those who were not computational biologists to understand. Within two weeks, the group had 16 solutions more accurate and up to 1,000 times faster than the National Institute of Health standard BLAST algorithm. To read further, please visit http://hms.harvard.edu/news/solving-big-data-bottleneck-2-7-13.
Sequester Cuts University Research Funds
Washington Post
The federal government is reducing support for academic laboratories across the United States to satisfy the sequester mandate to cut spending. Although about $30 billion in federal funding recently has gone to universities for research and development each year, the federal budget sequester is likely to shrink that amount by more than $1 billion. Opponents to the spending cuts say they could hinder U.S. leadership in science and engineering. The U.S. National Science Foundation says it expects to make 1,000 fewer grants this year than it normally makes. The sequester also makes it harder for students to enter doctoral programs in science and engineering. Universities are urging Congress to stop the sequester because it jeopardizes the discovery and innovation that drive economic growth. To read further, please visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sequester-cuts-university-research-funds/2013/03/16/08e9cc24-877a-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_story.html.
Deleted Cloud Files Can Be Recovered From Smartphones, Researchers Find
InfoWorld
University of Glasgow researchers were able to fully retrieve images, audio files, PDFs, and Word documents deleted from Dropbox, Box, and SugarSync, using both an HTC Android smartphone and an iPhone running iOS Version 3. They generated 20 distinct files of varying types, uploaded them to those services from a Windows 7 PC, and synced up the files with their test devices. The researchers then accessed and manipulated the files, and processed the devices with Universal Forensic Extraction Device. Afterwards, they employed forensic tools to extract the files and artifacts from the resulting memory dumps. The researchers successfully recovered metadata from all of the applications on both smartphones, and they determined that fewer files could be retrieved from applications whose caches had been cleared. To read further, please visit http://www.infoworld.com/t/mobile-security/deleted-cloud-files-can-be-recovered-smartphones-researchers-find-214779.
Educator Opportunities and Information
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
Nominations for Secondary School Teachers Due - April 1, 2013.
The National Science Foundation is currently accepting nominations and applications for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, or PAEMST, program. PAEMST is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science (including computer science) teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Since 1983, more than 4,100 teachers have been recognized for their contributions to mathematics and science education. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education. Up to 108 awardees may be recognized each year.
Presidential awardees receive a certificate signed by the president of the United States, a trip for two to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities, and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on the behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The PAEMST program is open to outstanding mathematics and science teachers in the 50 states and the four U.S. jurisdictions (Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Department of Defense education activity schools and the U.S. territories as a group). Anyone -- principals, teachers, parents, students or members of the general public -- may nominate a teacher by completing the nomination form available on the PAEMST website. Teachers may also apply directly.
Elementary school teachers (Grades K-6) are eligible to apply in 2014.
For more information, visit http://www.paemst.org/.
Please email any questions about this opportunity to info@paemst.org.
Microsoft Looking for Teachers to Help Revise MTA Exams
As part of the Microsoft Certification Exams team's efforts to ensure that the Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) exams are relevant and reflective of the fundamental knowledge and skills being taught in classrooms, we would like to review syllabi for courses that cover the following content areas:
* IT infrastructure (Windows operating systems, Windows Server, networking, security, cloud computing, etc.)
* Database (design, administration, etc.)
* Software development (C#, HTML, Windows, web, Microsoft .NET, mobile devices, developer fundamentals, gaming, etc.)
* Software testing
If you'd like to help Microsoft define the knowledge and skills that will be measured on MTA exams in these content areas, please send your syllabi tomslcd@microsoft.com<mailto:mslcd@microsoft.com>.
Women @ Energy: Making STEM Personal
DOE’s Office of Economic Impact and Diversity (ED) just launched Women @ Energy, a feature of STEM professionals at DOE and National Laboratories. Only 24% of the STEM workforce is female, an alarming gap as over 51% of the workforce overall is female. We can and should share our own STEM stories to help engage others and offer our voices on how our STEM careers have impacted us. Women @ Energy makes STEM personal by providing insight into STEM professionals and their career pathways, showing what inspired them to work in STEM, what excites them about their work at the Energy Department, sharing ideas for getting more underrepresented groups engaged in STEM, offering tips, and more. Women @ Energy would like to receive more candidates from the university and other interested communities. Send nominations to: annemarie.ashburn@hq.doe.gov; For more information, please visit http://energy.gov/articles/making-stem-personal-introducing-women-energy-series. Please also visit their blog at http://energy.gov/articles/making-stem-personal-introducing-women-energy-series.
Software Developers Expected to See the Highest IT Job Growth Come 2020
InfoWorld
There are currently about 4.16 million information technology (IT) professionals working in the United States, and that number is expected to grow by 22 percent through 2020, according to a new CompTIA report. The report provides a picture of how core IT positions break down today and a prediction of how the IT job landscape will look in 2020. The IT occupation with the highest projected growth rate through 2020 is systems software developer, which will grow by 32 percent from 387,050 positions today to 510,906 positions in 2020. The other positions with the highest projected growth rates include database administrators, application software developers, and network and systems administrators, which are expected to increase 31 percent, 28 percent, and 28 percent, respectively, by 2020. To read further, please visit http://www.infoworld.com/t/it-jobs/software-developers-expected-see-the-highest-it-job-growth-come-2020-212709.
Student Engagement and Information
Carnegie Mellon, NSA Seek High School Hackers
Associated Press
Contest Runs From April 25- May 5, 2013
Eligibility - Students in grades 6-12
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the U.S. National Security Agency recently launched Toaster Wars, a free, online high school hacking competition. The game is designed to be fun and challenging, but also aims to help participants consider computer security as an excellent career choice, says CMU professor David Brumley. "The government has a huge number of concerns," Brumley says. "Computer security isn't growing fast enough to keep up with all the threats. If you call any business, they're going to say we can't hire enough security people." The Toaster Wars contest is a capture-the-flag-type game, with pieces of information encrypted into the game. The game includes computer forensics, cryptography, Web exploitation, and binary exploitation. The game was designed to hold the interest of aspiring young hackers, as well as provide a legal forum for developing cybersecurity skills. For more information, please visit http://news.yahoo.com/carnegie-mellon-nsa-seek-high-school-hackers-220854816.html. .
2013 SACNAS National Conference]
October 3–6, 2013 - San Antonio, Texas
Submission Deadline – April 3, 2013
SACNAS is a way for you to expose your students to incredible resources and the validating and inspiring environment of SACNAS where they have the unique opportunity to engage with science, culture, and community. The SACNAS National Conference also provides an important place for you to recharge as a professional, as you connect with peers, build your own networks, and recruit new students. To ensure your students don’t miss the opportunity to connect with SACNAS and be part of this exciting event, please encourage them to apply for a travel scholarship and/or submit an abstract! [http://sacnas.org/sites/sacnas.org/themes/sacnastheme/standalone-template/hr.gif] For complete conference information and submission guidelines, please visit http://sacnas.org/events/national-conf?.
Faculty Opportunities
2013 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Summer Faculty Research Program
Application Deadline - April 1, 2013
Applications are currently accepted for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2013 Summer Faculty Research Program. This program provides opportunities for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, faculty to engage in research of mutual interest to the faculty member and a JPL researcher. Non-STEM faculty will be considered based on available opportunities.
To be eligible to participate in the program, a potential fellow must hold a full-time appointment at an accredited university or college in the U.S. Special requirements for foreign national faculty members may apply. Fellows are required to submit a research report and present their work at the end of the session.
The program awards $13,500 fellowships for the 10-week session. A housing allowance will be offered for awardees that live beyond a 50-mile radius of JPL. Please note that stipend payments or salaries from other federal funding sources, including research grants and contracts, may not be accepted during the 10-week tenure of a JPL faculty research appointment.
For more information about this opportunity, visit http://jsfrp.jpl.nasa.gov/.
Inquiries about NASA's JPL Summer Faculty Research Program should be directed to the Petra Kneissl-Milanian at Petra.A.Kneissl-Milanian@jpl.nasa.gov.
ESnet Network Research Postdoctoral Fellow
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - Req # 75692
n the upcoming year, the Scientific Networking Division will embark on an important challenge: expanding its program in applied research, development and integration. With the vision to be a pioneer in developing innovative network technologies, the Division is seeking an exceptionally competent, flexible and innovative network researcher that is willing to think beyond the conventional. We are working at the leading edge of software-defined networking, OpenFlow, dynamic network infrastructure, network visualization, network knowledge plane, multi-domain and multi-layer architectures. The successful candidate will be the one that brings strong and diverse coding skills, focus, and ability to work with a fast-paced team. For more information and to apply, please visit
https://lbl.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=75692.
Career Opportunities
ESnet Network Engineer
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - Req # 75693
As a Network Engineer in the NESG, you are an experienced engineer with the ability to design, analyze, and troubleshoot ESnet’s core network, site connections, and peerings. You will serve as a principal point of contact in the group for network incidents and resolve escalated Tier 3 trouble calls as needed and on a rotating basis. Additionally, you will work with researchers, laboratory site personnel, vendors, and commercial service providers to solve users’ network performance issues, and create and maintain tools used to manage, monitor and troubleshoot ESnet. Additionally, you may lead small cross-functional teams to complete ad-hoc projects and present technical and organizational information at conferences with national or international visibility as required. You may participate in and lead committees, working groups and task forces to promote and develop standards in support of operations, engineering, and development activities in the Scientific Network Division as needed. For more information and to a apply, please visit https://lbl.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=75693.
High Performance Computing (HPC) Systems / Storage Engineer
Andover, MA.
The HPC Systems Engineer will be part of a team (comprised of HPC Storage Engineers and System Integrators and Testers) in configuring, deploying, maintaining and trouble-shooting both hardware and software on Linux and Windows based High Performance Computing Clusters and High Throughput Storage (HPC Cluster/HPCC) in active production. The position requires an individual who has worked in similar computing environments with an emphasis on distributed computing and high speed interconnects (Infiniband, 10gig Ethernet, iSCSI, FC, FCoE, SAS etc). Linux HPC/distributed computing experience and Windows Server computing experience is essential. This individual must work on complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. This person must also network with key contacts outside their own area of expertise for issue identification & resolution.
For more information, please visit http://www.techprosinc.com/.
High Performance Computing Technician
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - Req # 75501
The High Performance Computing Technician 1 is an entry-level professional who has sufficient educational and/or technical experience to start in a support function in a HPC operational area including computational systems, networking, cybersecurity, storage and environmental systems in a UNIX environment. For more information and to apply, please visit https://lbl.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=75501.
On the Lighter Side: Computational News of Interest
Cyberattack on Florida Election Is First Known Case in U.S., Experts Say
NBC News
The first known cyberattack on an online election system occurred last year in Florida's Miami-Dade County primary election, when a computer program sent more than 2,500 phantom requests for absentee ballots to the elections website from IP addresses in Ireland, England, India and other overseas locations. The county's software noticed the requests and elections workers rejected them, and the goal of the attack remains unknown. Overseas anonymizers concealed the originating computers' locations and prevented law enforcement from pinpointing culprits, leading the state attorney’s office to close the case in January. However, the investigation has been reopened following a Miami Herald report that three IP addresses in the United States were identified among those sending the requests and that investigators did not receive that information in a timely manner. To read further, please visit http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/18/17314818-cyberattack-on-florida-election-is-first-known-case-in-us-experts-say?lite.
Web Pioneers Win Inaugural $1.5M Engineering Prize
Agence France-Presse
The inaugural Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering will go to Internet and World Wide Web pioneers Robert Kahn, Vinton Cerf, and Marc Andreessen of the United States, Louis Pouzin of France, and Sir Tim Berners-Lee of Britain. Created a year ago, the prize is an attempt to boost the profile of the industry. Queen Elizabeth II will present the award to Kahn, Cerf, Andreessen, Pouzin, and Berners-Lee in a formal ceremony in June, and they will share a $1.5 million prize. Teams of people from around the world were involved in the development of the Internet and the Web, notes Alec Broers, chair of the judging panel. "However, these five visionary engineers, never before honored together as a group, led the key developments that shaped the Internet and Web as a coherent system and brought them into public use." To read further, please visit http://phys.org/news/2013-03-web-inaugural-mn-prize.html.
Meet Wikipedia, the Encyclopedia Anyone Can Code
Wired News
Lua, a 20-year-old programming language, has been opened up to the public so that anyone can build material on Wikipedia and its sister websites. “We wanted to provide editors with a real programming language,” says the Wikimedia Foundation's Rob Lanphier. “This will make things easier for editors, but it will also be significantly faster.” Wikipedia editors previously used templates to reuse material on multiple pages across the site, but that process bogged down the editing process as they accumulated. “The template language evolved into something like a programming language, but it was never designed to be a programming language,” Lanphier notes. The foundation thus migrated to Lua, a scripting language developed to automate the execution of frequently repeated tasks. Wikimedia selected Lua on the merit of it being specifically designed for embedding code and because it enables site administrators to carefully control how that code is carried out. To read further, please visit http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/03/wikipedia-lua/.
