Since its inception in 1996, Internet2 has been a cornerstone of collaborative research within the academic sphere, initially through its groundbreaking national network, then expanding its influence through federated identity and access management solutions with InCommon, and more recently, by pioneering cloud solutions tailored for higher education. The organization’s enduring commitment to fostering advanced research capabilities was further solidified with the arrival of Dana Brunson in 2019, who assumed the pivotal role of Executive Director for Research Engagement. Under her astute leadership, a robust team was assembled, dedicated to empowering the Internet2 community in navigating the increasingly complex landscape of research enablement. This comprehensive article delves into Brunson’s insights regarding the evolving demands of research computing and data (RCD) across higher education and meticulously examines how Internet2’s Research Engagement Team is strategically working to narrow the access disparity for institutions of all scales and missions.
The Imperative of Research Cyberinfrastructure Access
The landscape of modern research is characterized by an insatiable demand for sophisticated computational resources, massive data storage capabilities, and secure, high-speed connectivity. This digital foundation, collectively known as research cyberinfrastructure (CI), is no longer a luxury but a fundamental necessity for groundbreaking discovery. However, access to this critical infrastructure is not uniformly distributed across the academic ecosystem. Major research universities (R1 institutions) often possess significant internal resources and dedicated IT staff, while teaching-focused undergraduate institutions, minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and other smaller campuses frequently grapple with significant limitations in funding, expertise, and infrastructure. Internet2’s Research Engagement Team, under Dana Brunson’s direction, has made closing this access gap its central mission, striving to ensure that all researchers and educators, irrespective of their discipline or institutional affiliation, have equitable access to the tools, services, and resources essential for their work. This encompasses leveraging existing campus infrastructure, as well as tapping into regional, national, and even international resources, whether federally funded or provided by the private sector. The team’s multifaceted approach involves direct consulting, comprehensive training, fostering professional communities, and advocating for the critical role of RCD professionals, all aimed at democratizing access to the digital backbone of contemporary research.
A Legacy of Connectivity: Internet2’s Evolution
The story of Internet2 is intrinsically linked to the digital revolution in academic research. Founded in 1996 by a consortium of leading research universities, its genesis lay in the recognition that the nascent commercial internet, while transformative for general communication, lacked the speed, reliability, and dedicated bandwidth required for cutting-edge scientific endeavors. The initial mission was to build a next-generation network, far surpassing commercial offerings, to facilitate data-intensive collaborations and experiments. This high-performance network became the circulatory system for a new era of scientific discovery, enabling disciplines from astrophysics to genomics to share massive datasets and connect distributed instruments.
As the digital landscape matured, so too did Internet2’s strategic focus. By the early 2000s, the challenge of securely managing identities and granting access to a growing array of shared resources across institutions became paramount. This led to the creation of InCommon, a federation that provides a trustworthy identity and access management infrastructure for the U.S. education and research community. InCommon allows researchers to use their home institution credentials to access various services, from scientific applications to library resources, simplifying collaboration and enhancing security. This federated approach became critical as research became increasingly interdisciplinary and geographically distributed, necessitating seamless, secure access across institutional boundaries without the burden of managing multiple logins.
More recently, the advent of cloud computing has presented both opportunities and complexities for research. Internet2 has again adapted, developing cloud solutions that help institutions navigate the transition to hybrid environments, leveraging public cloud providers while maintaining control over sensitive data and specialized workloads. This evolution from pure network infrastructure to identity management and now to cloud orchestration demonstrates Internet2’s continuous commitment to providing the foundational cyberinfrastructure necessary for advanced research. Dana Brunson’s arrival in 2019 coincided with a period of accelerated change, as the demands for CI became more diverse and urgent, particularly for institutions without the deep pockets of R1 universities. Her mandate was clear: to ensure that this evolving CI ecosystem served the broadest possible community.
The Shifting Sands of Research Computing and Data Needs
The requirements for research computing and data have undergone a profound transformation over the past decade, driven by exponential growth in data generation, the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), and the increasing complexity of scientific models. Researchers across nearly every discipline, from social sciences analyzing vast datasets to material scientists simulating molecular interactions, now require access to high-performance computing (HPC) clusters, specialized graphics processing units (GPUs), massive storage arrays, and sophisticated data analytics platforms. A 2022 survey by Educause, for instance, indicated that over 70% of higher education institutions reported an increase in demand for research computing services, with significant challenges in meeting these needs due to staffing and funding constraints.
The sheer volume of data being produced is staggering. Fields like genomics, astronomy, and climate science routinely generate petabytes of data, requiring not just storage but efficient pipelines for processing, analysis, and secure sharing. AI/ML, once a niche area, has permeated nearly all scientific disciplines, demanding powerful computational resources for training complex models. Furthermore, the imperative for reproducibility in research has highlighted the need for robust data management plans, persistent identifiers, and accessible data repositories, adding another layer of complexity to CI requirements.
For institutions with limited resources, keeping pace with these advancements is an enormous challenge. They often lack the financial capital to invest in cutting-edge hardware, the expertise to manage complex software environments, and the personnel to support researchers in utilizing these tools effectively. This creates a widening "access gap" where smaller institutions, despite housing talented researchers with innovative ideas, are often excluded from participating in data-intensive or computationally heavy research projects. The digital divide in research is not merely about internet speed; it encompasses a holistic array of hardware, software, human expertise, and strategic planning.
Dana Brunson and the Research Engagement Team: A Strategic Response
Recognizing these evolving challenges, Dana Brunson, upon joining Internet2 in 2019, embarked on building a dedicated Research Engagement Team. Her vision was to create a proactive, service-oriented entity that would not merely provide infrastructure but actively empower institutions to leverage it. Brunson, with her extensive background in higher education technology and research support, understood that technology alone was insufficient; human capital, strategic planning, and community building were equally vital. The team she assembled brought together experts in high-performance computing, data management, cloud architecture, and community facilitation, creating a formidable resource for the Internet2 membership.
The formation of this team marked a strategic pivot for Internet2, moving beyond solely providing network and identity services to actively engaging with institutions on their specific RCD needs. It was a recognition that many institutions, particularly those without a large central IT department focused on research, needed guidance and direct support to develop and implement a coherent CI strategy. This proactive stance aimed to demystify complex cyberinfrastructure, making it accessible and actionable for a broader range of institutions. The team’s mandate was to translate national-level CI capabilities into tangible benefits for individual campuses, ensuring that the promise of advanced research was not confined to a select few.
Bridging the Divide: Initiatives for Equitable Access
Internet2’s Research Engagement Team implements a comprehensive suite of initiatives designed to bridge the access gap and foster a more equitable research landscape. These programs are built on the pillars of education, community building, and advocacy, targeting the multifaceted challenges faced by diverse institutions.
Empowering Institutions through Strategic Planning
A cornerstone of the team’s work is providing consulting and training services to help campuses develop and execute strategic plans for research cyberinfrastructure. This goes beyond mere technical advice; it involves a deep dive into an institution’s specific research priorities, existing capabilities, and budgetary constraints. The team assists institutions in understanding the full spectrum of available resources—both on-campus and external—and guides them through a structured planning process. For instance, they might conduct workshops on "CI Plan Development," helping institutions identify their current state, define future needs, assess gaps, and formulate actionable roadmaps. This often involves collaborating with campus leadership, IT departments, and faculty researchers to ensure alignment and buy-in. A small liberal arts college, for example, might be guided on how to leverage regional HPC consortia or access specialized cloud resources for faculty conducting digital humanities research, rather than attempting to build and maintain expensive local infrastructure. This strategic guidance ensures that investments are wise, sustainable, and directly support the institution’s research mission.
Cultivating a Professional Community with CaRCC
The Research Engagement Team actively facilitates the Campus Research Computing Consortium (CaRCC), a vital professional community for RCD professionals. CaRCC plays a critical role in developing shared tools, best practices, and a robust support network. RCD professionals, who often operate at the intersection of IT and academic research, can feel isolated within their institutions. CaRCC provides a forum for these individuals to connect, share challenges and solutions, and collectively advance the field. Through working groups, webinars, and annual meetings, CaRCC fosters the development of standardized approaches to issues like data management, user support, and software provisioning. For example, CaRCC might publish guidelines on "Fair Data Principles" (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) or develop templates for RCD job descriptions, helping institutions professionalize their research support staff. This community-driven approach not only elevates the expertise of individual professionals but also ensures that institutions, regardless of size, can benefit from collective knowledge and proven methodologies, effectively multiplying their internal capabilities.
Advocating for the Research Computing Professional
Beyond direct support and community building, the Internet2 Research Engagement Team actively advocates for RCD professionals, emphasizing their integral role as both research partners and critical assets for institutional competitiveness. In many academic settings, RCD staff are often seen as cost centers or mere technical support, rather than strategic collaborators. Internet2 works to shift this perception, highlighting how RCD expertise enables groundbreaking research, secures grants, and enhances a university’s reputation. This advocacy involves engaging with university leadership, funding agencies, and policymakers to underscore the value of investing in human capital for CI. By demonstrating the direct link between robust RCD support and research outcomes, Internet2 helps institutions understand that cuts to RCD staff or infrastructure can have profound negative impacts on their ability to attract top researchers and secure competitive grants. This focus on professionalization and recognition is crucial for building a sustainable RCD ecosystem across all types of institutions.
Voices from the Community: Impact on Institutions
The tangible impact of Internet2’s Research Engagement Team is best illustrated through the experiences of its member institutions. While specific names are withheld for illustrative purposes, the types of feedback consistently echo the value of these initiatives.
Perspectives from Under-Resourced Campuses
At a regional teaching-focused university, for example, the Vice Provost for Research might express, "Before partnering with Internet2, our faculty struggled to access the computational power needed for modern research. We simply didn’t have the budget for a supercomputer or a team of HPC specialists. Internet2’s team didn’t just tell us what to do; they helped us understand our unique needs, connected us to state-funded resources, and provided training that empowered our IT staff to support our researchers more effectively. Now, our faculty are competitive for grants that were previously out of reach, and our students are gaining invaluable experience with advanced computing tools." This sentiment underscores how strategic guidance and connectivity can unlock research potential in environments where it might otherwise remain dormant.
Similarly, an administrator at a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) might reflect, "Our challenge wasn’t just infrastructure; it was also knowing where to begin. The sheer complexity of national cyberinfrastructure can be daunting. Internet2’s Research Engagement Team provided a clear roadmap and ongoing support, helping us develop a CI plan that aligned with our institutional mission and the specific research interests of our diverse faculty. They also connected our RCD staff with CaRCC, which has been an incredible resource for best practices and peer support. This partnership has been instrumental in ensuring our researchers have the equitable access they deserve to contribute to national scientific endeavors." These accounts highlight the importance of not just providing resources, but also the knowledge and community to effectively utilize them.
Reinforcing Capabilities at Major Research Hubs
Even R1 institutions, with their extensive internal resources, benefit significantly from Internet2’s initiatives. A Director of Research Computing at a large public university might state, "While we have substantial CI, managing its complexity and staying abreast of rapidly evolving technologies is a constant challenge. CaRCC, facilitated by Internet2, provides a critical forum for us to collaborate with peers, share innovative solutions, and collectively advocate for the RCD profession. This community allows us to optimize our investments, learn from others’ successes and failures, and ensure our infrastructure remains at the forefront of research support. The shared best practices help us streamline our operations and deliver better services to our researchers." This illustrates how even well-resourced institutions gain value from the collaborative environment fostered by Internet2, leveraging collective intelligence to enhance their advanced capabilities.
The Broader Implications: Democratizing Discovery and National Advancement
The efforts of Internet2’s Research Engagement Team to close the access gap for research cyberinfrastructure have profound broader implications that extend far beyond individual campuses.
Firstly, democratizing discovery is a core outcome. By ensuring equitable access to advanced research tools, Internet2 is actively fostering inclusivity within the scientific community. This allows a wider array of institutions and researchers, including those from underrepresented groups and regions, to participate in cutting-edge research. This diversification of the research talent pool is crucial for generating novel perspectives, addressing a broader range of societal challenges, and fostering innovation from unexpected sources. When a teaching-focused institution can contribute to a national climate modeling project, or an MSI can lead research in AI ethics, the entire scientific enterprise benefits.
Secondly, a robust and equitably accessible CI ecosystem is vital for national competitiveness in science and technology. In an increasingly globalized research environment, a nation’s ability to innovate is directly tied to the strength of its research infrastructure. By strengthening the CI capabilities across all segments of higher education, Internet2 helps to ensure that the United States maintains its leadership in critical scientific fields, from advanced manufacturing to biomedical research. This contributes to a stronger national innovation pipeline, which is essential for economic growth and geopolitical influence.
Finally, the investment in RCD infrastructure and professional development has a direct economic impact. Research discoveries often lead to new technologies, industries, and job creation. By enabling more institutions to engage in high-impact research, Internet2’s work indirectly contributes to regional and national economic development. Furthermore, by making RCD professionals recognized and valued, it helps to create a stable and attractive career path for a critical workforce, addressing a growing demand for skilled individuals who can bridge the gap between scientific inquiry and advanced computing.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Momentum
As research continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, driven by emerging fields like quantum computing, synthetic biology, and responsible AI, the demands on research cyberinfrastructure will only intensify. The challenges of sustaining funding for cutting-edge hardware, attracting and retaining highly skilled RCD professionals, and navigating increasingly complex cybersecurity threats will remain paramount. Internet2 and its Research Engagement Team are positioned to continue playing a crucial role in addressing these future challenges. Their ongoing commitment to community building, strategic guidance, and advocacy will be essential in ensuring that the promise of advanced research remains accessible to all, thereby fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive scientific ecosystem for decades to come. The work initiated by Dana Brunson and her team is not merely about providing technology; it is about cultivating an environment where scientific curiosity can flourish, unhindered by limitations in digital access.
