Research infrastructure: CC* network-region: expanding the pennsylvania science DMZ supporting under-resourced colleges and universities (PA-science-DMZ-2024)

The National Science Foundation awarded The Pennsylvania State University $1,328,423 on March 15, 2026, under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070) to deploy advanced cyberinfrastructure connecting three Pennsylvania small institutions—Allegheny College, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, and West Chester University—to the PA Science Network and regional high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and storage resources.

The project delivers high-performance data transmission and computational access across the three campuses through connections to the National AI Research Cyberecosystem, state research and education networks, and Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center's ADAPT program. Work encompasses building relationships between campus researchers and cyberinfrastructure professionals, piloting innovative cyberinfrastructure technologies, establishing research and education collaborations across Pennsylvania, developing the cyberinfrastructure workforce, and enhancing sustainability for cyberinfrastructure systems. The initiative advances research and education in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, astronomy and astrophysics, computer science, and cybersecurity.

Performance occurs in State College, Pennsylvania, with a period extending through February 29, 2028. The award is structured as a Project Grant.

Abstract

Contemporary research and education are driven by data-intensive science, AI, and advanced instrumentation that depend on robust cyberinfrastructure. While these tools enable rapid discovery, limited network capacity or connectivity is a bottleneck?especially for small institutions?restricting their ability to fully participate in modern scientific inquiry and educate the nation?s workforce. This project immediately transforms research and education capacity at three small institutions?allegheny college, harrisburg university of science and technology, and west chester university?by addressing critical gaps in access to regional and national AI, high-performance computing (HPC), and storage resources. By deploying advanced cyberinfrastructure to connect these campuses to the PA science network and key pennsylvania-based (PA) resources, the project enables high-performance data transmission, sharing, and access to computational and storage services. Combined with other networking and storage investments, the national AI research cyberecosystem, two state research and education networks, and pittsburgh supercomputing center?s adapt program, this effort advances research and education across AI, advanced manufacturing, astronomy/astrophysics, computer science, and cybersecurity. The project addresses these gaps to drive innovation, multiply intellectual impact, and create broader impacts through strategic activities: building relationships between researchers and campus cyberinfrastructure (CI) professionals, piloting innovative CI technologies, creating opportunities for research and education collaborations across PA, developing the CI workforce, and enhancing sustainability for CI technologies. The project provides a robust and efficient template for additional initiatives regionwide, fostering a more interconnected cyberecosystem with an aim to create opportunities for all americans everywhere. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.