---
title: "New HPC course bridges the gap between students and local tech industry"
description: "CS491/591, led by Matthew Fricke and backed by a $1M Department of Education grant, gives students hands-on cluster experience."
type: News
tags:
- News
- Education
generated:
by: "claude/fable-5"
at: "2026-08-29T00:00:00Z"
sources:
- id: carc-web
resource: "https://carc.unm.edu/news--events/News/hpc-course-matthew.html"
title: "HPC course (carc.unm.edu)"
author: "team:unm-carc"
---
# New HPC course bridges the gap between students and local tech industry
By Mariah Rosales
The Center for Advanced Research Computing (CARC) is pleased to highlight
our High-Performance Computing (HPC) course led by University of New Mexico
Research Assistant Professor Matthew Fricke. This unique course (CS491/591)
has provided undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on technical
training while fostering connections between students and the local tech
workforce.
Backed by a $1 million grant from the Department of Education, the course
aims to address the growing need for skilled professionals in the fields of
computational science and advanced computing. Through a combination of
practical experience and career-focused sessions, students develop essential
skills and gain insight into potential career pathways in labs, private
industry, and research institutions.
A key feature of the course is the opportunity for students to work directly
with their own miniature computing clusters, built using repurposed CARC
hardware nodes. This hands-on experience allows students to learn essential
system administration skills on Linux systems, including job scheduling,
software installation, and system setup.
"Our goal is to provide students with not only technical expertise but also
a clear understanding of the professional landscape," says Fricke. "By
connecting students with experts from local labs and the tech sector, we aim
to bridge the gap between academic training and real-world application."
In addition to technical training, the course includes a special
career-building session where students engage with professionals from
national labs, private industry, and academic research. This session is
designed to give students a comprehensive view of the current job market and
help them navigate potential career opportunities.
The HPC course reflects CARC's ongoing commitment to strategic workforce
development and community engagement. By equipping students with both
technical and professional skills, the course aims to prepare the next
generation of computational scientists and system administrators.
For more information on CS491/591, email Matthew Fricke at
.