CyberTraining at UMBC is an NSF-funded initiative to create a training
program in big data
applied to atmospheric sciences as application area and using high-performance computing as
indispensable tool. The training consists of instruction in all three areas of "Big Data + HPC +
Atmospheric Sciences", followed by faculty-guided project research in a multidisciplinary team
of participants from each discipline. Participants can be
graduate students, post-docs, and early-career faculty/researchers from US institutes
who will be exposed to multidisciplinary research
and have
the opportunity for significant career impact. Both instruction and research are mentored by
faculty and supported by teaching assistants from each discipline.
Each participant will
receive
$1,500 stipend.
We successfully trained 16 participants in 5 teams in 2018 and 17 participants in 5 teams in 2019. Each team
delivered a
technical report and most reports have been extended for peer-reviewed conference or journal
papers, and faculty and participants are presenting there. Detailed information of training we had in 2018 and 2019 can be found at
2018 tab and
2019 tab.
The training will adopt a
flipped
classroom approach for the instruction in modules 1-10.
Participants watch the lecture videos individually first, then work on homework as a team. Help
is available at all stages from instructors and TAs through a discussion board. During modules
11-15, each team will present their research progress online and get feedback. Participants,
instructors, and TAs communicate online every week on Fridays 3:30-5:00 ET. Each participant is
expected to spend 9-12 hours per week on the training.