Research
My research group is called DisCo (Distributed Computing), and we do research in several areas, most of which fall under the High Performance Computing (HPC) umbrella. In particular, over the years we have done work in the following areas:
- Modeling and simulation of parallel/distributed computing platforms and applications
- Simulation-driven parallel and distributed computing education
- Application scheduling and resource management algorithms
- Software frameworks for distributed scientific applications
- Design of HPC systems (network topologies, physical layouts for 3-D multi-chip systems)
See my publications page for papers in the above, and other, areas.
Current Research
Most of our current research focuses on the simulation of parallel and distributed computing systems, with a large emphasis placed on HPC systems. Current projects include:
The SimGrid project, which I initiated more than 20 years ago but has taken a life of its own thanks to a bunch of talented people who’ve made it better than I could ever have, is a simulation framework for building scalable, accurate, simulators of parallel/distributed applications, systems, and platforms.
The WRENCH project is a simulation framework that sits on top of SimGrid and makes it possible to implement scalable and accurate simulators of complex cyberinfrastructure systems quickly and easily.
The EduWRENCH project provides pedagogic modules for teaching/learning principles of parallel and distributed computing via simulation-driven activities in the browser implemented using WRENCH.
The WfCommons project provides a set of community tools and resources for enabling scientific workflow research and development.
Recent Research Funding
Recent research awards include:
WfCommons Tools for Workflow Research, Development, and Education on the CyberInfrastructure, National Science Foundation, 08/2024 - 07/2027
Simulation-driven runtime resource management for distributed workflow applications, National Science Foundation, 10/2021 - 09/2024
Simulation-driven Evaluation of Cyberinfrastructure Systems, National Science Foundation, 08/2021 - 07/2024
Integrating core CI literacy and skills into university curricula via simulation-driven activities, National Science Foundation, 09/2019 - 08/2022
Infrastructure for Enabling Systematic Development and Research of Scientific Workflow Management Systems, National Science Foundation, 08/2020 - 09/2021
WRENCH: A Simulation Workbench for Scientific Workflow Users, Developers, and Researchers, National Science Foundation, 01/2017 - 12/2019.
Research Group Members
(last updated: Mar 2025)
Current members:
- Jesse McDonald (Ph.D.)
- Yick-Ching (Jeff) Wong (M.S.)
- Riley Miyamoto (M.S.)
- Sukaryo Heilscher (M.S.)
UHM Alumni:
- Haochen Wang (M.S., 2024, project)
- Derrick Luyen (M.S., 2022, project)
- John Dobbs (M.S., 2022, project)
- William Koch (M.S., 2021, thesis)
- Herman Li (M.S., 2021, project)
- Wyatt Hoodes (B.S., 2020, independent project)
- Evan Hataishi (M.S. 2019, thesis)
- Ryan Tanaka (M.S. 2019, project)
- Lambert Leong (M.S. 2018, thesis)
- Suraj Pandey (M.S. 2018, thesis)
- Noah Higa (B.S. 2017, senior thesis)
- Alyssa Higuchi (M.S. 2016, project)
- Robert Namaoe (M.S. 2016, project)
- Michael Gowanlock (Ph.D. 2015)
- Brian Hall (M.S. 2015, project)
- Ben Karsin (M.S. 2012, thesis)
- David Schanzenbach (M.S. 2011, thesis)
- Mark Stillwell (Ph.D. 2010)
- Kaveh Kardan (M.S. 2010, thesis)
- Joshua Wingstrom (Ph.D. 2009)
- Kayo Fujiwara (M.S. 2007, thesis)
Former Visiting Professors (sabbaticals):
- Oliver Sinnen (Univ. of Auckland, New Zealand)
- Frédéric Vivien (ENS Lyon, France)
- Michihiro Koibuchi (NII, Japan)
- Kento Aida (NII, Japan)