This Intro to HPC workshop is designed for anyone who wants to understand how modern research is conducted at scale. We will walk through what High-Performance Computing is, why it is essential for fields such as AI, climate science, genomics, engineering, and other data-intensive research, and how clusters, storage, and high-speed networks work together behind the scenes.
The focus is on building a clear mental model, not running jobs yet, so participants leave with a solid understanding of HPC terminology, architecture, and workflow, and how this environment differs from using a regular computer. This session lays the foundation and confidence needed before moving into the hands-on job-submission training in the next workshop.
This session is part of the CUIT Research Services HPC Training Series, designed to onboard researchers to the shared high-performance computing (HPC) resources at Columbia. Led by HPC engineers, these webinars will introduce participants to Columbia’s shared on-premise HPC cluster (Insomnia) and provide foundational skills for effectively leveraging its resources. Whether you're new to HPC or looking to refine your expertise, this series will guide you through essential tools and workflows for running computational research efficiently.
You may take one or all of the courses, depending on your needs, though we recommend attending all sessions for the best experience:
