---
title: "UNM receives $1.5 million to support computational workforce development"
description: "In the state of New Mexico, there is a pressing need for effective training in the fields of computational and data science at all levels of education, from undergraduate to professional."
type: News
tags:
- News
date: "2023"
generated:
by: "process:scripts/port_legacy_pages.py"
at: "2026-09-10T00:00:00Z"
sources:
- id: carc-web
resource: "https://carc.unm.edu/news--events/News/dept-ed-earmarked-funds.html"
title: "UNM receives $1.5 million to support computational workforce development (carc.unm.edu)"
author: "team:unm-carc"
---
# UNM receives $1.5 million to support computational workforce development
By Mariah Rosales · 2023
In the state of New Mexico, there is a pressing need for effective training in
the fields of computational and data science at all levels of education, from
undergraduate to professional. This need is driven not only by the increasing
demand for skilled professionals in these fields nationwide, but also by the
unique requirements of the national laboratories located in the state,
including Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and
the Air Force Research Laboratories.
Despite this growing demand for experts in computational science, data
science, and high-performance computing (HPC), there is a shortage of
well-trained applicants for these positions in New Mexico. UNM requested funds
from Congress to address this critical need in the state and were successful
in having $1.5 million allocated as part of the Congressionally Directed
Community Project Funds in the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2023
(Appropriations Act). The university then had to submit an application to the
Department of Education, who awarded the funds as a grant spanning two years.
The principal investigator for the project is Computer Science Professor and
Director of the Center for Advanced Research Computing Patrick Bridges.
The project focuses on the development of effective training programs and
management strategies that will ensure that students and professionals are
equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to succeed in
computational and data science.
To achieve this objective, the project has specific goals, including creating
new courses, revamping existing programs, acquiring computing hardware,
engaging and supporting K-12 faculty, staff, and students, and linking
students with New Mexico employers. The project aims to increase student
enrollment, collaboration between UNM faculty and staff and community members,
interaction between students and potential employers, and student usage of
computational and data science systems. The project’s course and program
development span both undergraduate and graduate-level computational and data
science as well as technical education topics.
At the undergraduate level, the project will reintroduce the CS4All course,
which teaches computer science concepts through computational modeling and
simulation, at all UNM campuses as a foundation for additional programs and
courses in this area. Leading this effort are Computer Science Assistant
Professor Amanda Bienz and Mathematics & Statistics Associate Professor Jacob
Schroder.
Schroder says, “I’m excited about this grant because it will give Professor
Bienz and me the resources we need in order to create a challenging,
introductory class on computational science.” This effort will be complemented
with hackathons on topics of interest to the communities to encourage students
to gain experience with computational and data science. The hackathons will be
hosted virtually from the main UNM campus, with UNM branch campuses also
hosting local sites for students to collaborate with each other and their
peers across the state. “This is a growing field with lots of opportunities in
New Mexico, especially at the national labs. So it is a great opportunity to
help train the next generation of computational scientists here in New
Mexico,” says Schroder.
The graduate-level activities of the project will focus on revitalizing and
enhancing the Computational Science & Engineering (CSE) Graduate Certificate
at UNM. The project will work with affiliated departments to broaden the set
of courses available in the CSE program, including courses in big data and
statistical analysis. The CSE program will also be integrated with workforce
connection activities. CARC Senior Business Manager Tracy Wenzl will oversee
efforts to revitalize the CSE graduate certificate and will also lead project
assessment efforts.
Both the undergraduate and graduate programs will be complemented by a
technical course on designing, deploying, and operating modern
high-performance computing systems. Employers like the national labs require
these skills, but they are not commonly taught as part of the computer science
curriculum. The new course will be developed in partnership with the New
Mexico national laboratories and will directly support workforce development
in the state. Computer Science and CARC Research Assistant Professor Matthew
Fricke will lead efforts to develop and teach the new HPC workforce
development course.
Bienz says, “Computational science is such an important part of careers across
STEM and beyond. This grant will provide an opportunity to introduce
computational science to students across the university.” By investing in the
training of students and professionals in these critical fields, New Mexico
will be better positioned to meet the demands of the national laboratories and
other industries that require skilled computational and data science
professionals.
“This award is going to help UNM transform what we do to grow the
next-generation workforce in data science and related fields like
cybersecurity.” says Bridges. The outcomes of the project are expected to lead
to a well-trained workforce in New Mexico's computational science, data
science, and high-performance computing industries. Bridges continues, “It’s
also important to note that this award also wouldn’t have been possible
without the support of the state’s Congressional delegation, and we really
appreciate their leadership and vision in helping UNM meet the growing demands
from New Mexico industry and labs for expertise in this area.” The project
will be a vital step in the development of a robust and sustainable workforce
in these fields, ensuring that New Mexico remains at the forefront of
innovation and technology in the years to come.
