This $790,000 project grant awarded by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) program (CFDA 47.070) aims to develop virtual labs and training materials to promote the broader adoption of smart network interface cards (SmartNICs) among cyberinfrastructure professionals and contributors. The University of South Carolina (USC) is the primary awardee and will create hands-on virtual labs hosted on web-based platforms to provide accessible and practical training on SmartNIC technologies. This includes developing guided experiments and interactive electronic booklets to enable cybersecurity, research support, and IT professionals to learn about implementing offloaded applications, deploying SmartNIC-based solutions, and providing effective support.
As a sub-award under this grant, the Minority Serving - Cyberinfrastructure Consortium (MS-CC) led by Internet2 will assist with recruitment and outreach to minority-serving institutions, including organizing workshops and tutorials, to engage students and instructors from these communities in the SmartNIC training programs. The project aims to lower barriers to SmartNIC adoption and promote progress in areas like scientific computing, machine learning, and cybersecurity by enabling broader access to this emerging technology.