Current Status
The 'Stage 0' Projects
In December 2008 we collected responses to our request to Victorian researchers for outlines of projects relating to the life sciences that could benefit from advanced computational resources. The list is up on the website at the Potential Projects page.
In the interim, we have been investigating how to advance the projects that are 'ready to go'. Around 20 projects have been chosen to be part of 'Stage 0'. These projects have also been used to inform the requirements for the Stage 1 machine. There is a Stage 0 working group discussing the proposals containing representatives from the University of Melbourne, Monash University, VPAC, VeRSI, NICTA and WEHI.
The 'Stage 0' projects will lay the groundwork for development of services to potential life-sciences research projects using the Life Sciences Computation Centre and the Peak Computation Facility.
We are pleased that VPAC has made available some additional computing resources that can be used for supporting Stage 0 for the remainder of 2009.
Expressions of interest
We are interested in receiving further expressions of interest for projects to use the PCF, and continue to update the Potential Projects page.
Please contact Professor Leon Sterling <leonss@ unimelb.edu.au> for guidelines for your application.
What next?
We are still planning for a Stage 1 facility to be available by the end of 2009. Stage 1 will be run by a merit allocation scheme similar to the NCI scheme. Details of how to apply for Stage 1 resources will be advertised in the second half of 2009.