READ Credits offer users the ability to conduct important HPC-powered research on the Roar system at no cost to them. READ Credits can be used to run jobs with all types of compute hardware, including GPUs. 

READ Credits are fully subsidized by OSVPR.  

A Monthly Allotment for Incidental Use

Every Roar account holder receives 3 READ Credits per month, intended for “exploration” of the Roar systems including simple testing and other incidental uses. 

• Your monthly allotment of 3 READ Credits expires at the end of each month- use them or lose them! 

• These READ Credits are deposited into your personal open account and cannot be shared with other users. 

• Use your READ Credits by specifying open as the account name when submitting your job. Additional details are found in the Roar User Guide. 

Additional READ Credits for Your Research

Performing under- or unfunded research and need computational resources? Penn State faculty may apply for additional fully subsidized READ “discovery” Credits. 

• Unlike your monthly allotment of READ Credits, Credits distributed under the application process may be accessed by multiple users, and they may be used over longer periods (up to a year). 

• Similar to a seed grant, smaller requests have minimal application requirements and can be processed quickly. Applications for larger numbers of Credits require additional information and will take longer to process. 

Apply for Additional READ Credits here.

 

READ Credits FAQ

• Q: How did ICDS arrive at a baseline of 3 READ Credits per month? 
• A: This stipend is intended for simple testing and other incidental tasks that would be tedious or even impossible to report as contributing to a specific research project. After several months of piloting this program, ICDS found that a large majority of users used less than 1 READ Credit per month, and so a cap of 3 was settled upon. ICDS (in consultation with faculty advisory groups) will reevaluate this decision over time. 

• Q: Why bother with an application process for additional READ Credits? 
• A: The simple application form allows ICDS to associate subsidized resources with specific research initiatives, making us all better stewards of OSVPR funds. Additionally, limiting applications to faculty ensures PI oversight for student-run computing. 

• Q: Are there other sources of free/subsidized credits? 
• A: Yes! Contact your Associate Dean for Research and/or Department Head; your college or department may have purchased blocks of Roar compute Credits that you may be able to access for your project. 

• Q: I’d like to apply but I’m not sure how many Credits I’ll need. 
• A: Visit our Service Details and Rates page for tools to help you estimate your Credit needs or contact us at icds@psu.edu for a consultation.