Webster University Receives $746,000 NSF Grant to Improve High-Performance Computing Education in Missouri

August 14, 2026 - 09:09

Webster University has secured a three-year, $746,008 grant from the National Science Foundation to launch a new initiative called Connect-HPC. The project, led by Professor Xiaoyuan Suo from the university's math and computer science department, aims to broaden access to high-performance computing education for students and educators throughout Missouri.

High-performance computing, or HPC, refers to the use of supercomputers and parallel processing techniques to solve complex problems in fields like climate modeling, genomics, and artificial intelligence. Despite its growing importance, many smaller colleges and community colleges lack the resources or faculty expertise to teach these skills. Connect-HPC plans to change that by building a shared educational framework that connects Webster with partner institutions across the state.

The grant will support curriculum development, faculty training workshops, and the creation of remote access to computing clusters. That means students at schools without their own supercomputing facilities can still gain hands-on experience. The project also emphasizes workforce development, preparing graduates for careers in data science, engineering, and research.

Suo, who has been with Webster for over a decade, said the goal is to make HPC education more inclusive and practical. The team will work closely with industry partners to ensure the coursework aligns with real-world needs. The first cohort of participating schools is expected to be announced later this year, with pilot courses rolling out next fall.