Cultivating the Next Generation of Cyberinfrastructure Leaders

Published as a part of PEARC '26 Proceedings. 

Authors: Angela Murillo, Don Brower, Nicole Virdone, Yaxue Guo, Sarowar Hossain, Jaya Bharti, Lu Shi, and Ewa Deelman.

Abstract: 

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) CI Compass Fellowship Program (CICF) is a specialized training initiative designed to address the persistent workforce gap in cyberinfrastructure (CI) research, development, and operations. Over five years, the program has mentored eighty undergraduate students from forty-eight institutions, bridging the gap between technical foundations and the operational contexts of NSF Major Facilities (MFs). This article details the program's structure, its rapid growth into a selective national fellowship, and its measurable impact on student technical proficiency and career trajectories.