New Research Exploration And Discovery (READ) Credits - Coming January 2026
Effective January 2026, ICDS is replacing the Open Queue with the free READ credit monthly model. The automatic monthly READ allocation is provided to all users and is reset every month. Unused credits do not roll over.
What This Means For Faculty
- Free-to-you computing will consist of a small automatic monthly allocation, which can be used on all types of hardware including GPUs. It is possible to request additional READ credits through an online form.
- Automatic allocation: You will receive READ credits automatically each month (10 in January, then decreasing during the transition period) — no action required
- Additional credits: Request more through a simple online form describing your research. Small requests (under 50 credits) are processed quickly with minimal information. Larger requests are processed after a more detailed review.
- Managing your group: You can allocate portions of your READ or purchased credits to students and postdocs in your research group
- Your scripts still work: Jobs submitted to the “open” partition will continue to work. No script changes are required, but we recommend reviewing your scripts to ensure you are requesting appropriate hardware resources for your jobs — this can help you use credits more efficiently.
- The application process for additional credits is lightweight — for most requests, a brief description of the research is sufficient.
What This Means For Other Users
- Students and non-faculty users will receive the automatic monthly allocation and can also access additional computing resources through their advisor. Your advisor can grant you access to their additional READ credits or purchased credits.
- If you need more resources, work with your faculty advisor. If your advisor is unfamiliar with Roar, encourage them to contact ICDS at icds@psu.edu — we can help them get set up.
What is a Credit?
1 credit = 1 Basic core-month. A credit represents compute time on our Basic node hardware configuration. Other resource types (Standard memory, High Memory, GPUs) require more credits per core-month based on their relative cost. For reference, 1 credit costs approximately $3 when purchased.
Transition Timeline
To ease the transition for researchers currently relying on the Open Queue:
| Month | READ Credits (All Users) |
|---|---|
| January 2026 | 10 Credits |
| February 2026 | 8 Credits |
| March 2026 | 5 Credits |
| April 2026 + | To be announced |
The ongoing monthly amount from April onward will be announced in February 2026.
Faculty who need more than these amounts can apply for additional READ credits at any point.
Still have questions? The Client Support team offers virtual “office hours” via Zoom, Thursdays and Fridays from 12-1.
Frequently Asked Questions
About READ Credits
What does READ stand for?
Research Exploration And Discovery.
How do READ credits differ from purchased credits?
They function identically when running jobs. The difference is administrative: the automatic READ credit allocation resets monthly (a “top-up” model), while additional READ credits requested by faculty are available for a longer period. Purchased credits persist until used.
Can I use READ credits on any hardware?
Yes. You can use any hardware in the credit partition by submitting to the different queues (Basic, Standard, High Memory, GPU). Credits are deducted according to the resource type:
| Compute Type | Credits per Core Month |
|---|---|
| Basic | 1 |
| Standard | 1.99 |
| High Memory | 2.78 |
| P100 Single GPU | 4.99 |
| A100 Single GPU | 50.55 |
| A100 Half Card GPU | 25.28 |
| A100 Multi-Instance GPU Slice | 7.22 |
| A40 GPU | 50.48 |
| V100 GPU | 22.68 |
To estimate how many credits a job will cost before running it, use the `job_estimate` utility with your batch script:
$ job_estimate my_script.slurm
Estimated job cost: 0.0021 credits
See the Roar User Guide for more details.
Getting More Credits
I’m faculty and need more than the automatic allocation. Is this difficult?
No. The process is designed to be lightweight — we need enough information to report on how resources support research, not a grant proposal. See the main READ Credits page for more information and application.
- Up to 50 credits: Submit a brief online form describing your research. Requests are processed quickly.
- 51–1000 credits: Provide additional project details and timeline.
- Over 1000 credits: A more detailed application with justification is required.
What if I have grant funding but need credits for unfunded preliminary work?
This is exactly what READ credits are for. Explain the situation in your request — exploratory work that may lead to future proposals is a valid use.
My college bought credits. How do I access them?
Contact your college’s research office or ICDS at icds@psu.edu. Many colleges have purchased credits that are available to their faculty.
Technical Questions
Will my existing scripts break?
No. Jobs submitted to the “open” partition continue to work unchanged, but we recommend reviewing your scripts to ensure you are requesting appropriate hardware resources for your jobs — this can help you use credits more efficiently.
How do I estimate how many credits I need?
Use our command-line utilities:
- `credit_estimate` — Shows how many credits your past jobs would have consumed
- `job_estimate` — Estimates credits needed based on a sample batch script
Or use the interactive cost estimator.
How do I give my students access to my credits?
Monthly allotments of READ Credits are deposited in your open account and as such, can’t be shared. However, PIs who apply for additional READ Credits will have Credits deposited in an account accessible to their entire team.
How do I check my READ credit balance?
You can determine your remaining READ Credit balance at any time with the command get_balance on the command line.
Getting Help
Who do I contact with questions?
General questions and technical support: icds@psu.edu
When are office hours to discuss this change?
ICDS Customer Support offers virtual office hours via Zoom, Thursdays and Fridays from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Following the implementation of the new READ credit system, Client Support will offer additional office hour sessions, as follows:
- 1/9: 1 pm to 3 pm
- 1/10: 9 am to 11 am and 1 pm to 3 pm
- 1/11: 9 am to 11 am and 1 pm to 3 pm
- 1/12-1/15: daily from 12 pm to 1 pm