Technical Architect at Manhattan College and former MWRCD Residency Fellow

Wyatt Madej standing in front of a building next to an University of Illinois sign that reads, "National Petascale Computing Facility"

Exploring the Landscape of Midwest Research Computing and Data Consortium

This is a series where we’re diving into the world of the Midwest Research Computing and Data Consortium, exploring its members, the challenges, and future prospects. We had the opportunity to speak with Wyatt Madej, Technical Architect at Manhattan College and former MWRCD Residency Fellow, who shared his insights on the field. Edited excerpts below:

Journey to Technical Architect at Manhattan College

My path in IT began as a student employee, which sparked my interest in networking and computing. Moving into a full-time role during COVID, I focused on our computer labs, which laid the groundwork for my entry into IT. Attending a conference on cyber infrastructure and research computing opened my eyes to the overlap between my work and the broader research computing and data fields. This led to the successful awarding of an NSF CC* grant, marking the start of our cyber infrastructure journey at Manhattan College.

Advancements in Academic Computing Systems

At Manhattan College, we’ve always prioritized open-source solutions, including our Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) stack, which has been crucial for research computing. This approach has allowed us to deliver robust computing services remotely, uncovering the computational needs of our faculty’s research. Our open-source-first strategy has significantly enhanced our academic and research computing capabilities.

Insights from MWRCD Residency at NCSA

The most profound realization from my time at NCSA was that the challenges in research computing and cyberinfrastructure are largely problems of scale. This perspective has informed my approach to hardware, budgeting, and facilitation with researchers back at Manhattan College. Engaging with NCSA’s database, data analytics, and Training & Facilitation teams provided valuable insights into managing researcher data and developing open workshops for utilizing our computational resources.

Collaborative Efforts in New York State

The research computing and data community is remarkably tight-knit, and NYSERNet exemplifies this connectivity. My experiences, especially from the MWRCD residency, have reinforced the importance of collaboration across New York State’s research institutions. Sharing knowledge and connecting people within this network is crucial for advancing research computing and cyberinfrastructure.

From Broadcast to Academic Computing

My experience working in the television broadcast industry for SportsNet New York (SNY) taught me about operational needs and ensuring uptime, lessons that are directly applicable to managing the computing needs at Manhattan College. Whether broadcasting a game or providing computational resources to students, the goal remains the same: reliability and meeting client needs.

Future Projects and Initiatives

We’re focusing on ‘real big compute’ to support the research at Manhattan College, leveraging our NSF CC* award to connect to national resources like NCSA’s Delta or Jetstream. Building a local cluster or enhancing connectivity to existing resources are among the exciting projects we’re pursuing to meet our researchers’ computational needs.

Personal Interests and Closing Thoughts

Outside of IT, I’m the assistant pep band director at Manhattan College, where I enjoy playing the tuba and writing music. It’s crucial to recognize that groundbreaking research is happening at institutions like Manhattan College. Collaborations, especially through programs like MWRCD, are vital for bringing visibility and support to the research and innovations at smaller, minority-serving institutions.