Conference: Research Computing at Smaller Institutions (RCSI) 2026

This grant funds travel for approximately twenty-six participants to attend the Research Computing for Smaller Institutions (RCSI) conference, taking place June 16-17, 2026 at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Smaller and under-resourced institutions face distinct challenges in managing research data, adopting computational methods across a growing range of disciplines, and sustaining complex collaborative projects. These institutions have comparatively limited human, financial, and infrastructure resources. RCSI offers attendees actionable strategies to address such challenges, opportunities for idea exchange, and a forum for community building. Informed by prior iterations of the conference and attendee feedback, this year's program expands its focus on emerging topics, including quantum computing resources and related research facilitation guidance for smaller institutions, pathways for effective state and regional collaborative partnerships, extending and customizing Open OnDemand's functionality for smaller institutional contexts, leveraging national computing resources such as the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) and the NSF-funded ACCESS program at smaller institutions, and identifying approaches to community-building and sustaining engagement year-round beyond the conference itself.

Travel support enables the participation of individuals who would otherwise be unable to attend — a particularly important consideration given the event's target audience. Conference outputs, including presentations, will be made publicly available. Given the anticipated range and breadth of the attendee pool, broader impacts on research computing practice in support of learning, pedagogy, and research will be substantial. Impacts include including greater and more efficient collaborative engagements; improved models for integrating research computing into pedagogical contexts; informed investment in relevant hardware, software, and infrastructure; skills development for students, faculty, and CI professionals; and a strengthened foundation for subsequent grants and funding proposals.

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.

Award Number: 2620452
Principal Investigator: Jason Simms
Funds Obligated: $29,141
State: PA