Project Grant 2346718

This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) program provides $649,951 to Purdue University to enhance the institution's network connectivity and data-intensive research capabilities. The project will upgrade Purdue's external connectivity to the Internet2 network and the CERN Large Hadron Collider Open Network Environment, delivering 400 Gbps wide-area bandwidth. This will enable faster, more robust network support for data-driven research across disciplines, including emerging fields like artificial intelligence. The award also funds educational and workforce development activities to engage undergraduate students in network infrastructure deployment and operation, supporting experiential and residential learning programs at Purdue. Furthermore, the project will extend high-speed network connectivity to Purdue's research farms, agronomy, and animal sciences facilities to enhance research capabilities in those areas. The award period runs from April 2024 to March 2026.