Governance at ACCRE

Steering Innovation and Excellence

At ACCRE, our governance structure plays a crucial role in ensuring that we provide top-tier computational resources and support. Our Steering Committee, composed of distinguished faculty and leaders from various schools within Vanderbilt University, guides our strategic direction, policy, and operational oversight.

Steering Committee Members

  • Brett Byram, Engineering: Prof. Byram’s expertise in biomedical engineering is invaluable in aligning ACCRE's resources with the needs of innovative biomedical research.
  • Paul Sheldon (Founder and Emeritus), Arts and Science: As the committee chair, Prof. Sheldon's background in physics and astronomy ensures ACCRE stays at the forefront of computational research tools in the sciences.

University Administration

  • Padma Raghavan, Vice Provost for Research and Innovation: Dr. Raghavan ensures that ACCRE's initiatives align with Vanderbilt's research objectives, her experience in computational science and academic leadership guiding our long-term vision. ACCRE formally reports to the office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation.

Faculty Advisory Board (FAB)

The FAB, with representatives from across Vanderbilt, ensures ACCRE’s services meet the diverse needs of our research community.

  • Faculty Advisory Board (FAB) Members at ACCRE
    • Katherine Aboud, Peabody: Specializing in education and human development, Dr. Aboud ensures ACCRE's resources are accessible and beneficial to a broad range of academic disciplines.
    • Jeffrey Alvin, School of Nursing: Bringing a unique perspective from the health sciences, Dr. Alvin's input is critical in tailoring ACCRE's capabilities to support health-related research.
    • Charreau Bell, DSI: As Director of the Undergraduate Data Science Minor, Dr. Bell's expertise and insights helps in shaping ACCRE's approach to handling large datasets and complex computational models. She ensures ACCRE facilities are equipped to handle undergraduate teaching needs for Data Science and ACCRE.
    • Brett Byram, Engineering: An expert in biomedical engineering with research focus on medical ultrasounds and signal processing, Prof. Byram brings valuable insights in bridging computational resources with biomedical applications.
    • Chris Candelaria, Peabody: Specializing in economic theory and econometrics to evaluate policies and better understand issues related to education policy.
    • Vicki Greene, Arts and Science: Prof. Greene, a distinguished physicist, adds depth to the committee with her expertise in particle physics and oversees the CMS project at ACCRE. The CMS project at ACCRE has seeded and donated much of our cluster infrastructure.
    • Bennet Landman, Engineering: As an engineering chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and with a focus on imaging and informatics, Dr. Landman's guidance is instrumental in advancing ACCRE's capabilities in data visualization and image processing.
    • Jirong Long, VUMC: Representing Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. Long brings a wealth of experience in biostatistics, crucial for biomedical applications researching cancer.
    • Hassane Machaourab, School of Medicine: As Director for the AI Center for Protein Dynamics, Dr. Machaourab specializes in protein structures and dynamic basis for protein function.
    • Jonathon Rattner, Arts and Science: As an expert in visual arts, Prof. Rattner provides a unique perspective on integrating computational technology with creative and artistic processes.
    • Paul Sheldon, Arts and Science: Leading the committee, Prof. Sheldon's background in physics and astronomy offers a broad perspective on high-performance computing applications in the sciences.
    • Jarrod Smith, School of Medicine: As Assistant Director of the Center for Structural Biology, Dr. Smith’s input is essential for aligning ACCRE’s services with the computational needs of medical research and clinical studies.
    • Chuck Saunders, School of Medicine: As Vice Dean of Basic Sciences, Dr. Saunders' insights into medical research needs ensure that ACCRE remains a pivotal resource for Vanderbilt's medical community.
    • Sonya Sterba, Peabody: As a Director of the Quantitative Methods Program and faculty advisor to the Data Science Institute, Dr. Sterba’s insights are invaluable for enhancing ACCRE’s capabilities in statistical analysis and methodology.
    • Jesse Spencer-Smith, Engineering: As Executive Director of the Data Science Institute and expert in Data Science, Dr. Spencer-Smith’s guidance is key in advancing ACCRE’s GPU infrastructure to support innovative computing solutions for AI and ML.
    • Jules White, Engineering: As Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for Generative AI in Education and Enterprise Solutions and computer science faculty, Dr. White’s expertise in software development and digital systems is instrumental in shaping the future of ACCRE’s support offerings.
    • David Wright, Arts and Science: Representing the natural sciences, Prof. Wright's expertise helps in aligning ACCRE's offerings with the requirements of fundamental scientific research.
    • Maizie Zhou, Engineering: With her focus on biomedical engineering, Dr. Zhou brings a unique perspective on the application of computational resources in medical and biological research.

Our Collaborative Approach

The diverse expertise of our Steering Committee and FAB ensures that ACCRE’s resources and services meet the multidisciplinary research demands of Vanderbilt University. Their vision and insights are crucial in guiding ACCRE’s strategic direction, making us a leader in advanced research computing.

Engage with Us

We invite the Vanderbilt community to engage with our governance team, share your ideas, and contribute to our mission of advancing research through high-performance computing.

Contact Us