Category: News

ORC Spring 2026 Workshops – Inro to AI/ML Workflows on Hopper

The ORC workshop for this week on Thursday, 03/05/2026, will be on managing AI/ML pipelines on the Hopper Cluster covering topics including Slurm, examples with PyTorch/TensorFlow, and efficient Multi-GPU Computing.

Title: Introduction to AI/ML Workflows on the Hopper Cluster
Summary: This 2-hour hands-on workshop combines an introduction to the cluster environment and running jobs with SLURM (interactive and batch) with hands-on AI/ML examples using PyTorch and TensorFlow. Topics include managing Python environments, setting up GPU and multi-GPU jobs, and best practices for efficient deep learning training on the cluster.

Location: VizLab (Research Hall 369) + Zoom option

Date: 03/05/2026

Time: 2:00PM

Sign Up/Attendance Page with additional information for joining through Zoom can be found on this page: https://forms.office.com/r/LqPA5x519N

In-person attendance is highly recommended for the hands-on sessions. We look forward to seeing you there. Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions.

ORC_Spring_2026_Workshops – AIML_Worflows_on_HOPPER Download

ORC Workshops for Spring 2026

We are excited to resume our ORC Workshop series for Spring 2026. Our first workshop will be on Data Transfer with Globus and Managing Databases on the Cluster with MySQL, this coming Thursday, on 02/26/2026, between 2:00PM – 4:00PM. All those using the cluster are invited to attend.

The Spring ORC workshops will be held in-person in the VizLab, Research Hall 369. Researchers may also join through Zoom, with details on the Workshop Sign Up page.

Below is the list of planned workshops for Spring 2026:

Date and Time (EST)	Workshop Title	Description
02/26/2026, 2:00PM-4:00PM	Data Transfer and Managing Databases on Hopper	This workshop covers: 1- secure data transfer using Globus, best practices for moving large datasets, organizing project storage, and managing files efficiently across systems. 2- setting up and managing MySQL databases on the cluster, including configuration, performance best practices, and integration with research workflows.
03/05/2026, 2:00PM – 4:00PM	AI/ML Workflows on the Cluster: Slurm, Model Training and Efficient GPU Computing on Hopper	This hands-on workshop combines an introduction to the cluster environment and running jobs with SLURM (interactive and batch) with hands-on AI/ML examples using PyTorch and TensorFlow. Topics include managing Python environments, setting up GPU and multi-GPU jobs, and best practices for efficient AI model training on the cluster.
03/19/2026 2:00PM – 4:00PM	R and Biostatistics Workflows on the Hopper Cluster	This hands-on workshop introduces using R on the cluster for R-based workflows, including job submission with SLURM in batch mode, R environment management, using the R Studio app through the Open OnDemand Dashboard and reproducible biostatistics workflows on Hopper.

Recordings from past sessions can be found in this playlist: Fall 2025 ORC Workshops

We look forward to seeing you there. Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions.

ORC Workshops for Fall 2025

The ORC Workshop series for Fall 2025 have started. All sessions will run on Thursdays between 11:00AM-12:00PM. The first workshop on The SLURM Scheduler on the HOPPER Cluster and is planned for Thursday, 09/11/2025, at 11:00AM. All those using the cluster and planning to use the cluster are invited to attend. 

Workshop Registration/Join Details: 

Details on joining the Workshop sessions can be found on this form: https://forms.office.com/r/LqPA5x519N. 

ORC Workshops for Fall 2025
ORC Webinars	Description	Date	Presenter
Introduction to Slurm and Running Jobs in Batch Mode	This workshop will be a detailed introduction to the cluster environment and using the job scheduler, SLURM, to run jobs interactively and in batch mode from the shell.	Thurs 11-Sep	ORC
Open OnDemand: Interactive Web Dashboard for Working on the Cluster	This workshop will be a detailed introduction to the Open OnDemand web dashboard that can be used to run apps and other jobs on the cluster interactively.	Thurs 18-Sep	ORC
Running VS Code from OOD	This workshop will cover correctly connecting to the cluster and using Visual Studio, both locally installed and the app from OOD	Thurs 18-Sep	ORC
Managing Python Packages with Conda and Python Virtual Environments	This workshop will go into the different ways Python packages can be managed in the cluster environment using Conda and Python virtual environments both in batch mode from the command line and with Jupyter Notebooks and Jupyter Lab on the cluster.	Thurs 25-Sep	ORC
Running GPU Jobs Efficiently on the Cluster	This workshop covers an introduction to the different GPU resources we have on the cluster and how to set up, run and monitor your GPU jobs in the most efficient way.	Thurs 02-Oct	ORC
Running and Monitoring Multi GPU Jobs on the Cluster	This workshop will go over running and monitoring multi-gpu jobs based on Python Multi GPU training with DDP	Thurs 09-Oct	ORC
Running R on Hopper/ Biostats Workflows	Running jobs and using R on the Cluster	Thurs 16-Oct	ORC
MySQL on Hopper		Thurs 23-Oct	ORC

Upcoming ORC events and workshops are normally posted on our website here while the workshop series and other training resources details can be found on our Training pages here.  

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions. 

Save the Date: VA-WHPC Trivia Game!

Virginia Women in HPC (VA-WHPC ): Women in HPC | Save the Date: VA-WHPC Trivia Game!

Please join us to support the next virtual event from Virginia Women in High Performance Computing (VA-WHPC)!
Topic: Enriching Research Computing and Data (RCD) Careers, Part 2

Time:1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST September 10th, 2025

What:

Test your knowledge of high-performance computing in a fun and engaging trivia game. Whether you’re an HPC expert, a student, or just curious about the world of supercomputers and advanced computing technologies, this trivia game is for you! Save the Date and get ready to power up your knowledge!
This session will explore strategies for skill-building, real-world leadership development experiences (like MOR Associates and CliftonStrengths), and emerging resources for training and advancement compiled by the CaRRC community. We’ll also set aside time for open discussion and Q&A come with questions and ideas!

Register for this event here!

Link:Click here

For more information please visit: https://va-whpc.org/event/va-whpc-trivia-game/

This virtual event is jointly hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University, Virginia Tech, William & Mary, University of Richmond, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Old Dominion University, and the University of Virginia.

Virginia-WHPC | Topic:Enriching Research Computing and Data (RCD) Careers By Dr. Scott Yockel | June 2025

Please join us to support the next virtual event from Virginia Women in High Performance Computing (VA-WHPC)!

Topic: Enriching Research Computing and Data (RCD) Careers, Part 2

Time:1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST June 24th, 2025

What

Join us for Part 2 of our RCD careers discussion with Scott Yockel, Ph.D., Research Computing Officer at Harvard. In this follow-up to his 2024 presentation, Dr. Yockel will share fresh insights on developing meaningful career paths in Research Computing and Data, with a focus on individual agency, staff support, and leadership beyond formal management roles.

This session will explore strategies for skill-building, real-world leadership development experiences (like MOR Associates and CliftonStrengths), and emerging resources for training and advancement compiled by the CaRRC community. We’ll also set aside time for open discussion and Q&A come with questions and ideas!

Register for this event: here!

Link: https://virginia.zoom.us/meeting/register/DyKGBN2gQGKY9Txg2UhMFA%20

Presenters:

• Dr. Scott Yockel, Harvard University: Dr. Scott Yockel serves as the University Research Computing Officer at Harvard, where he develops and advocates for university-wide research computing strategy, collaborating with faculty and university leadership to address emerging needs and secure funding. He is actively involved in national and regional initiatives like CaRCC and MGHPCC, leading projects such as the New England Research Cloud and Northeast Storage Exchange.

For more information please visit: https://va-whpc.org/event/save-the-date-rcd-careers-part-2/

VA-WHPC: Real Stories in HPC | February 25th @ 1pm EST

Please join us to support Virginia Women in High Performance’s (VA-WHPC) February Event!

Topic: Real Stories about Using HPC in Research

When

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm February 25th, 2025

What

This month, three graduate students will share their experiences using High-Performance Computing (HPC) in their research. Each speaker will give a 10-minute presentation on how they use HPC, the challenges they’ve faced, and how they developed the necessary skills to effectively utilize these resources. After each presentation, there will be time for questions and discussion. We look forward to seeing you there!

Register for this event here!

Link: https://virginia.zoom.us/meeting/register/yTjiPkdjRfKo3QRM-U_ZTQ

Moderator – Eric Walter – Director of Research Computing – William & Mary

Presenters:

• Mahshid Ahmadian is a Ph.D. candidate in System Modeling and Analysis, with a specialization in Statistics and Data Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is also a Virginia Sea Grant graduate fellow, where she integrates the fields of statistics, ecology, and fisheries science. Her research focuses on developing spatiotemporal models designed to analyze fish movement data. She has experience using high-performance computing (HPC) to process large-scale spatial data and implement computationally intensive statistical models.
Website: https://mahshidahmadian.weebly.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahshidahmadian

• James Giroux is a PhD candidate working at the intersection of Nuclear Physics and Data Science at William and Mary. His research is focused primarily on applications of generative AI, Computer Vision, and Bayesian Deep Learning for physics event reconstruction.

• Karolina Naranjo-Velasco is a PhD candidate in Data Science at the University of Virginia and MSDS ’22 graduate. She brings a unique perspective as a Latina attorney specializing in constitutional law. Her research focuses on developing automations using HPC and AI tools for parsing legal documents and training language models to analyze texts. Beyond her technical contributions, she strengthens diversity in data science through conference leadership and mentorship of underrepresented STEM professionals.
Website: https://datascience.virginia.edu/people/karolina-naranjo-velasco

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolinaranjo/

X: https://x.com/karolinaranjo

For more information please visit: https://va-whpc.org/event/save-the-date-real-stories-a-using-hpc-in-research/

ORC Workshops For Spring 2025

We are excited to begin our Workshop series for Spring 2025, the first of which will be on The SLURM Scheduler on the HOPPER Cluster and is planned for this Thursday, 09/19/2024, at 11:00AM -12:00PM. All those using the cluster and planning to use the cluster are invited to attend. 

Introduction to Slurm and Running Jobs in Batch Mode | 02/13/2025 | 11:00AM – 12:00PM EST 
Summary: This workshop will be an introduction to the cluster environment and using the job scheduler, SLURM, to run jobs interactively and in batch mode.  

Workshop Registration/Join Details: 

Registration/Sign in form: https://forms.office.com/r/LqPA5x519N  

Spring 2025 Planned Workshops:

ORC Workshops for Spring 2025
ORC Webinars	Description	Date	Times
Introduction to Slurm and Running Jobs in Batch Mode	This workshop will be a detailed introduction to the cluster environment and using the job scheduler, SLURM, to run jobs interactively and in batch mode from the shell.	02/13/2025	11:00AM – 12:00PM
Open OnDemand: Interactive Web Dashboard for Working on the Cluster	This workshop will be a detailed introduction to the Open OnDemand web dashboard that can be used to run apps and other jobs on the cluster interactively.	02/20/2025	11:00AM – 12:00PM
Running VS Code from OOD	This workshop will cover correctly connecting to the cluster and using Visual Studio, both locally installed and the app from OOD	02/20/2025	11:00AM – 12:00PM
Managing Python Packages with Conda and Python Virtual Environments	This workshop will go into the different ways Python packages can be managed in the cluster environment using Conda and Python virtual environments both in batch mode from the command line and with Jupyter Notebooks and Jupyter Lab on the cluster.	02/27/2025	11:00AM – 12:00PM
Running GPU Jobs Efficiently on the Cluster	This workshop covers an introduction to the different GPU resources we have on the cluster and how to set up, run and monitor your GPU jobs in the most efficient way.	03/20/2025	11:00AM – 12:00PM
Running and Monitoring Multi GPU Jobs on the Cluster	This workshop will go over running and monitoring multi-gpu jobs based on Python Multi GPU training with DDP	03/27/2025	11:00AM – 12:00PM
Running R on Hopper/ Biostats Workflows	Running jobs and using R on the Cluster		11:00AM – 12:00PM

Upcoming ORC events and workshops are normally posted on our website here while the workshop series and other training resources details can be found on our Training pages here.  

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions. 

Virginia-WHPC: Join the Committee!

Are you a higher-ed student in Virginia or DC engaged in High Performance Computing (HPC)? Are you passionate about bridging the gender gap in HPC and promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry? Do you want to contribute to the planning of VA-WHPC community events?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, the VA-WHPC Committee invites you to join us!

We are excited to bring together passionate individuals who want to promote diversity and inclusion in the HPC field. Our current members come from a wide range of universities, creating a vibrant community dedicated to supporting women and allies in HPC. Join us and make a difference!

Take a look at some of our events in the past! VA-WHPC Past Events

Please fill out the form below by January 31st to let us know more about you! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email Jennifer Vo, VA-WHPC Administrative Assistant, at [email protected].

VA-WHPC Committee Interest Form

Mission: VA-WHPC off ers a welcoming space for women and allies in the HPC fi eld to connect and support each other. Through networking events and educational opportunities, VA-WHPC aims to bridge the gender gap in HPC and promote diversity and inclusion in the industry. By joining VA-WHPC, individuals can access valuable resources and build meaningful connections that enhance their professional growth and success in HPC.

VA-WHPC-committee-recruitment-flyer_final Download

ORC Open Office Hours Resumed

Dear ORC Cluster Users,

Walk-in office hours for The Office of Research Computing will resume starting this week of 1/21/2025. ORC staff will be available to assist users and answer questions. Walk-in Office hours will be held Monday through Thursday from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM in Merten Hall 3112. Virtual Walk-in Office Hours will be held on Fridays 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Walk in Office Hours:	Monday-Thursday – 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM	Merten Hall Room 3112
Virtual Walk-in Office Hours	Friday – 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM	https://gmu.zoom.us/j/95119571677

See https://orc.gmu.edu/help/request-help/ for up to date Office Hours information.

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].

Biannual ORC Maintenance

The Hopper cluster will undergo biannual maintenance this January. Hopper will be unavailable between 6:00AM on Thursday, 01/16/2025 and the end of Friday, 01/17/2025 for scheduled maintenance. We plan to upgrade the compute, network, and storage infrastructure of the cluster during this maintenance window.  

Maintenance Schedule: 
– Start Time: Thursday, January 16, 6:00AM 
– End Time: Friday, January 17, End of Day 

Affected services: 

1. Login/Head and Compute Nodes: All login/head and compute nodes will be inaccessible. Users will not be able to log in or submit jobs during this time. 

2. Open On-Demand (OOD): The Open On-Demand (OOD) interface will be inaccessible. Users are advised to plan their activities accordingly and save any unsaved work. 

3. Storage and Related Services: Most storage services, including Samba and Globus, will have very limited and intermittent availability.  

4. Virtual Machines: Most virtual machines will have intermittent availability. Users with virtual machines should be prepared for potential interruptions in service. 

All SLURM partitions will be drained when the maintenance window starts. Any jobs started between now and the maintenance period must be timed to end before the maintenance window begins. When starting a job, make sure to set the time parameter in SLURM to less than 7 days and reduce it as the maintenance window gets closer, for example: 

We have provided a script named ‘time-to-maintenance-window.py ‘ which you can run to generate an appropriate “–time” parameter for your scripts:

>$ time-to-maintenance-window.py
A maintenance window scheduled to start on 2025-01-16 06:00:00.
Please use the following or smaller time limit. Note that some partitions have time limits less than 2-16:00:00.

SBATCH –time 2-16:00:00

 Please note that any jobs that are configured to run past the planned downtime dates will not start until after the maintenance is complete.  

The clusters should be back online by the end of 01/17/2025.   

If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at [email protected].  