WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Research Update
Dr. Christopher J. Keane
Vice President for Research
Professor of Physics
Washington State University
Dr. Sasi K. Pillay
Vice President of ITS
and Chief Information Officer
Washington State University
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Office of Research Strategic Objectiveswhat we do to realize the Vision/Mission
defined in the Strategic Plan
• Execute research-related activities safely and securely
• Develop and execute strategic plans for WSU research
• Improve and effectively manage research infrastructure
• Transfer research and innovation to the marketplaceimprove the economic well-being of the citizens of WA
state and the nation
• Enhance the visibility of WSU research
We work with the WSU community to
achieve these objectives
A successful research enterprise requires both individual
investigator and team efforts
Category of research
Characteristic of research
Transdisciplinary problems
of broad societal interest
Grand Challenges or
research agenda or…
MRP1
RS1
PI1
MRP2
RS2
PI2
(More)
RS3
PI3
Multidisciplinary research
projects/initiatives
(More)
Research Strengthsgroups of faculty/staff
(More)
Individual faculty/staff
expertise- the “bedrock”
Addressing multidisciplinary research challenges requires
building and recognizing research capabilities at all levels
Category of research
WSU supporting action
Identify transdisciplinary
problems of broad societal
interest
Grand Challenges or
research agenda or…
MRP1
RS1
PI1
MRP2
RS2
PI2
(More)
RS3
PI3
Encourage cross-disciplinary
collaborations between
faculty
(More)
Support major research
strengths involving groups
of faculty- centers, etc.
(More)
Provide fundamental
research infrastructuregrant support, core
labs, etc.
WSU “Grand Challenges” define the university’s strategic
research agenda and areas for investment opportunity
“Grand
Challenges”
Strategic
Reallocation (5%
of operating)Research and
Student Success
• Sustaining Health
• Food/Energy/Water
Nexus
• Opportunity and Equity
• Smart Systems
• National Security
Focused
Investments
(up to
$1M/yr each)
• Functional Genomics
• Community health
analytics
• Health disparities
• Green stormwater
• Nutritional genomics
• Smart Cities
Office of Research Organization Chart
Institutional Animal Care
and Use Committee
Institutional Review Board
Institutional Biosafety Committee
Radiation Safety Committee
Vice President for
Research
Dr. Christopher J.
Keane
Office of Research Affiliated Positions:
Assistant to VP
Sandy Watson
John Roll, Associate Vice
President for Health
Sciences Research
Communication & Outreach Specialist
Alyssa Patrick
Brian Kraft, Director of
Innovation and Industrial
Research Engagement
Strategic Partnership Specialist
Monika Moo-Young
Director
Administrative
Services
Mary Frei
Communications
Eric Sorensen
Research Misconduct, Fiscal/Admin
Lisa Brown-Haas, Alicia Foth
Grand Challenge Points of Contact
Clean Technology
M. Wolcott
Research
Advancement and
Partnerships
G. Dutta
Centers, Institutes, and
Labs - Research/
Instrumentation Cores
Research Support and
Operations
D. Nordquist
Research Assurances
Campus Veterinarian
M. Kluzik
N. Woodford
A Lazarus
Commercialization
Small Business
Development
S. Pappu
D. Fladland
WSU central administration is working to improve
operational support of the research enterprise
• IACUC



Additional individual hired
Two external reviews conducted- implementing changes in coordination with
faculty advisory group
Initial Faculty and Staff testing of online form/system complete; system-wide
implementation of new form in the next few months
• IRB



Additional individual hired
Research Council subgroup reviewing processes and suggesting operational
efficiencies- IRB next “to go electronic”
Includes reviewing and implementing revised federal law
• ORA Operations Working Group (D. Nordquist/M. Kluzik)

Looking at procedures, electronic tools, metrics- 3 meetings in March
• Pre-Award/Post-Award Advisory Group (P2) (D. Nordquist/M. Skinner)


Charge issued week of 3/20
25 faculty and staff to provide advice and feedback to OR and Finance &
Administration leadership
Purpose and History of KAMIAK / CIRC
Purpose: To coordinate, centralize, and expand WSU’s research computing
efforts and propel WSU into a position of national leadership.
History:
1. Nov 2015 – Initial investment in Kamiak $2.7 M
Initial Investment - 32 nodes)
260K
Initial 3 staff (1-2 years)
2. Feb 2016 – b version tested
650K
578K
3. Nov 2016 – Full Production
4. Currently 110 nodes installed
800K
600K
CAS
CAHNRS
VCEA
ITS
VPR
Provost
150K
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Center for Institutional Research Computing (CIRC) Organization Chart
Vice President for
Research
CIRC Advisory
Committee
Vice President for
Dr. Christopher J. Keane
Information Technology
Dr. Sasi Pillay
CIRC Director
Assoc. VP ITS
HPC Team Lead
Deputy CIO
Kamiak User
Group Executive
Committee
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Computing – A Pillar of Research and Education
• Advancing and Supporting research
–
–
Investors and Users
Several large recently funded grants depend upon Kamiak ($3M Ficklin NSF
CC-NIE, $12M Clark EFRC)
• Supporting Education and Training
–
–
–
–
–
–
Training modules for graduates and undergraduates
Expansion of undergrad course content and offerings (e.g. in Data Analytics)
Provide a virtual workspace for students to practice what they learn
Expand undergraduate research in high impact areas (deep learning, artificial
intelligence, etc.)
Created student HPC Club (approved 3/17)
Empower HPC Club to be an agent for change
• Invest in Kamiak through Student Tech Fee grant (approved 3/17, purchase 5 nodes in May
after Regents approval)
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Kamiak is a Foundational Element of this Vision
There are 2 communities of faculty using Kamiak
• Investors that purchase nodes and where Kamiak is the
research instrumentation
• Larger user community where Kamiak fills a key need
Actual CY2016 Grant Expenditures
Grant Expenditures
F&A
Investors
$2.9M
$1.0M
PI Users
$5.9M
$1.4M
TOTAL
$8.8M
$2.4M
$51.2M (direct)
$18.9M (F&A)
57 Pending Proposals
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Faculty investment to date – Growing fast
 

Nodes
Max Growth:
•288 nodes with plans for
power
•2 years till Kamiak is
completely full (assuming
30 nodes/6 month) – this is
faster than original
estimates based on 5 years
Feb
April
June
Aug
Oct
Dec
2016
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Long Term Plan
Step 1 – Kamiak user facility (in place  securing sustainability)
Step 2 – Centralize and Diversify Computing & Visualization
infrastructure
• Support and develop timeline for migration onto
Kamiak [e.g. Aoleous), Genomics Core, clusters in
closets]
• Expand service capabilities into cloud computing
and grid computing as needed by researchers
• Expand regional partnerships for research,
education, and training
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Planning for Growth (to 288 nodes)
• An essential element for Kamiak is physical infrastructure
(power)
• Current power consumption in ITB1010 limits us to 144 nodes
• Legacy IBM HPC decommission (July ’17)
• Should enable growth to 288 nodes, with ~22K of investment needed in
ITB1010
• Contingency plans
–
–
Power monitoring in ITB1010 may necessitate contingency plans if use
becomes too high
Options: rent Data Center space at UW, PNNL
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