The NCShare Campus Cyberinfrastructure: Connect, Collaborate, Create Workshop brings together researchers, IT partners, and institutional leaders from across North Carolina to strengthen connections, spark collaboration, and turn shared cyberinfrastructure into real research impact. Through case studies, funding insights, and intentional networking, the interactive workshop is designed to move ideas into action and build momentum for multi‑ campus collaboration.
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Agenda
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Participant Check-in Begins at Welcome Table
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. — Leadership Welcome: NCShare leaders will welcome participants and set the stage for the day ahead by outlining workshop goals, key themes, and the overall flow of the program.
Speakers:
Jon Gant, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Development & Resources Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, Interim Dean and Professor, North Carolina Central University
Tracy Futhey, Chief Information Officer and VP of Information Technology, Duke University
10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. — SESSION 1: Leveraging NCShare: Real-World Research and Cyber Infrastructure: Faculty and researchers share real‑world examples of how NCShare supports data‑intensive and collaborative research. Through concrete case studies, speakers will highlight the impact of shared cyberinfrastructure, the value it brings to their work, and lessons learned from putting NCShare into practice.
Speakers:
Sambit Bhattacharya, Professor of Computer Science, Fayetteville State University
Ravanasamudram Uma, Professor of Computer Science, North Carolina Central University
Mohammad Ahmed, Dean, College of Health and Science, North Carolina Central University
Rishi Kamaleswaran, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery and Department of Anesthesiology; Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University
Jonathan Schultz, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Carolina Central University
11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. — Break and pick up boxed lunch to eat in next session
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — SESSION 2A (Concurrent Session): Leading NCShare on Campus: This leadership‑focused breakout explores strategies for successfully advancing NCShare on campus. Topics include implementation approaches, campus communication and engagement, building community, and the role of institutional leadership in supporting adoption and long‑term success.
Speakers:
Sharyne Miller, Chief Information Officer, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Zerek Olson, Governance, Risk, and Information Privacy Officer, University of North Carolina Wilmington
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — SESSION 2B (Concurrent Session): Researchers & Service Teams in Action: Researchers and service teams share how they are using NCShare resources to support research workflows and decision‑making. This interactive session emphasizes peer‑to‑peer discussion on what’s working, common challenges, and practical approaches for overcoming barriers.
Speakers:
Uthpala Herath, Senior Engagement Specialist, Duke University
Katie Kilroy, Research Computing & Support Services Director, Duke University
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. — SESSION 2C (All participants re-convene) Bringing It Together: Shared Insights & Priorities: Participants reconvene to share key takeaways from the concurrent breakouts and identify shared priorities. This facilitated discussion focuses on actionable ideas for increasing NCShare use, strengthening collaboration, and sustaining momentum across institutions.
Speakers:
Sharyne Miller, Chief Information Officer, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Zerek Olson, Governance, Risk, and Information Privacy Officer, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Uthpala Herath, Senior Engagement Specialist, Duke University
Katie Kilroy, Research Computing & Support Services Director, Duke University
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. — Break
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. — SESSION 3: Leveraging NCShare: Putting in the Extra Effort: Faculty and student case studies highlighting how deeper engagement with NCShare infrastructure can enhance research outcomes. This session illustrates the added value of advanced use, collaboration, and persistence in maximizing the impact of shared resources.
Speakers:
Edmundson Effort, IT Analyst and Adjunct Professor, Computer Science, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
James Brown, Assistant Professor, Computer Systems Technology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Alexis Cooper, PhD Student, Compute Science, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Aryaunna Armstrong, MS Student, Computer Science, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. — SESSION 4: Looking Forward: National Science Foundation (NSF) Federal Funding Landscape and 2026 Agency Updates: An overview of current NSF funding trends relevant to NCShare, including emerging programs supporting compute, AI, shared cyberinfrastructure, and multi‑institution collaboration. The session will highlight opportunities for joint proposals and how agencies view data and cross‑campus partnerships.
Speakers:
Kevin Thompson, Program Director, National Science Foundation
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. — SESSION 5: Using NCShare in Grant Proposals Successfully: This session equips participants with practical guidance for integrating NCShare into competitive grant proposals. Attendees will learn how to position shared cyberinfrastructure effectively, coordinate across IT, research offices, and faculty, and align proposals with funder expectations.
Speakers:
Denise Y. Wynn, Founder & Principal Consultant, Wynn Essentials
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. — SESSION 6: Engaging Stakeholders in Cross-Campus Collaboration and Sustaining NCShare’s Momentum for the Future: A Leadership Conversation: This leadership conversation explores how institutions can strengthen and sustain cross‑campus collaboration through supportive policies, active leadership engagement, and intentional community‑building. Panelists will discuss ways to streamline multi‑institution proposals, help researchers discover collaborators, and align Research Office and CIO/IT leadership to enhance campus engagement and long‑term impact.
Speakers
Jenny Lodge, Vice President for Research & Innovation, Duke University
Tracy Futhey, Chief Information Officer, Duke University
Joel Faison, Chief Information Officer, North Carolina Central University
Deepak Kumar, Associate Provost and Dean of Research and Sponsored Programs, Pharmaceutical Services, North Carolina Central University
Jon Gant, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Development & Resources Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, Interim Dean and Professor, North Carolina Central University
Sharyne Miller, Chief Information Officer, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Zerek Olson, Governance, Risk, and Information Privacy Officer, University of North Carolina Wilmington
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. — Networking Happy Hour: Wrap up the day by connecting with colleagues from across institutions in a relaxed, social setting. This Networking Happy Hour offers time to continue conversations, build new relationships, and explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership within the NCShare community.