Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work at a High-Performance computing (HPC) center? Perhaps you’ve looked into the roles available, but you’re not sure what type of degree or training you would need to apply for a job in the world of cyberinfrastructure (CI). The ACCESS STEP program might be just what you’re looking for to answer all your questions about working in HPC.
ACCESS Operations began the STEP program to find the cyberinfrastructure professionals of tomorrow. Envisioned as a way to provide students with training on marketable skills in the areas of operations, networking and cybersecurity, STEP aims to promote the development of a competitive STEM workforce by providing opportunities to students from all types of colleges, not just the largest or most well-known ones.
“Our main goal is to contribute to raising the level of awareness about cyberinfrastructure as a viable career path while also providing students with high-quality training that will lead them in the workforce,” said Winona Snapp-Childs, PhD, STEP director and chief operating officer of Indiana University’s Pervasive Technology Institute (PTI). “It’s important that our current cyberinfrastructure expertise gets shared with the next generation of cyberinfrastructure professionals.”
STEP is a three-phase program intended for undergraduates or early-career graduate students interested in pursuing careers in cyberinfrastructure. The first phase, STEP-1, is a two-week, in-person experience in Miami. It’s open to all, including students with less experience. Mentors for students enrolled in STEP come from the highly experienced CI professionals who work for ACCESS and the program’s Resource Providers (RPs). While in the program, students will learn about the variety of career options in the HPC field, including web programming, high-performance computing, cybersecurity, networking and the real use of AI.
Mentors help students determine their interests and guide them in areas of study that they should consider pursuing in the future if they wish to seek a career in HPC. Students are provided with travel and accommodations for this experience, as well as a small stipend.
The STEP program has already led some of the initial participants into full-time positions at HPC centers. STEP interns speak highly of the experience in the program, in particular, they find the hands-on nature of the work to be unique and invaluable.
The deadline to apply for the 2025 STEP program is February 15, 2025. If you’re thinking of a career in HPC, take the first step on your journey and apply to the STEP program today!