The National Computational Merit Allocation Scheme 2022 Call for Applications (NCMAS2022) is now open.
NCMAS is the premier allocation scheme for meritorious access to Australian national supercomputing facilities. The 2022 round will provide more than 500 million service units of computing time across three facilities: NCI Australia’s Gadi, Pawsey Research Supercomputing Centre’s Setonix and MASSIVE.
The primary portal for applications and all associated information – including information about how to apply, eligibility, important dates, changes to the application process and frequently asked questions – is ncmas.nci.org.au.
This year, NCMAS is continuing its participation in the National Trial of Anonymising Grant Proposals from the Office of the Women in STEM Ambassador. This Trial aims to assess whether the anonymised review of allocation proposals reduces unconscious bias in STEM grant programs. As such, applications for NCMAS2022 are required to be written in an anonymous third-person style. Guidance and examples are available in the Information for Applicants and the Anonymisation Guide at ncmas.nci.org.au.
NCMAS2022 will be first year of use for Pawsey's new Setonix supercomputer. Researchers will experience a substantial increase in the computational resources available in NCMAS. The new supercomputer will feature a hybrid CPU-GPU system and will be at least 10 times more energy efficient than its predecessors Magnus and Galaxy.
Important Dates:
6 September – Optional A3P Compliance Check Close 5:00pm (AEST)
5 October – Applications Close 5:00pm (AEDT)
1/2/3 December – Allocation Committee meeting
21 December – Announcement of outcomes
Supporting Documentation
Before starting your application, we strongly recommend reading the following document in full:
- NCMAS 2022 Information for Applicants (PDF) - General information, rules, guidelines, how to apply.
- Anonymisation Guide (PDF) - Information, examples and common errors when anonymising your application.
- ORCID User Guide (PDF) - Details on how to update your publication list.
On-line Information Course
A free, self-paced course provides an overview of NCMAS and its merit-based allocation process, and information about the changes in the 2022 call. It also provides information on best practices and general recommendations for all applicants: https://learning.hpc-australia.org.au/p/ncmas-2022-call
Completion of the online information course is strongly encouraged for all NCMAS applicants, new and returning.
Zoom Information Sessions
The Secretariat is running information sessions every Tuesday at 3pm (AEST) until the end of September.
These provide information on various aspects of eligibility, anonymisation, how to apply and recommendations for applicants.
View the upcoming sessions at https://nci.org.au/news-events/events?event_status=1&search=ncmas.
Registration via: https://bit.ly/NCMAS2022Info
Getting Assistance
You can request help with the application process by sending an email to ncmas@nci.org.au.
