Resources

The Open Science Grid connects researchers to a nationwide ecosystem of shared computing and storage resources, making it possible to tackle computationally intensive research without building or maintaining a large local computing cluster. Through the Open Science Pool, eligible U.S. researchers can distribute workloads across computing resources contributed by universities, national laboratories, and other institutions, supporting projects ranging from bioinformatics and image analysis to large-scale simulations, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

The National Research Platform gives researchers and educators access to a distributed environment that brings together computing, storage, high-speed networking, GPUs, and cloud-native tools across participating institutions. Built around technologies such as Kubernetes, NRP allows research teams to create scalable and reproducible computing environments, move computation closer to large datasets, and expand workloads across multiple sites without relying entirely on infrastructure housed at their own institution.

The Open Science Data Federation connects scientific data repositories through a nationwide data distribution network, helping researchers efficiently access and share large datasets across institutions and computing environments. Its distributed system of data origins and caches can move frequently used information closer to where computation is taking place, supporting workflows ranging from browsers and Jupyter notebooks to large-scale high-throughput computing.

Led by Merit Network, the International Distributed Network Telescope gives researchers access to real-world observations of unsolicited Internet traffic collected from unused portions of Internet address space. By bringing together telescope data from participating institutions, INDNT supports cybersecurity, Internet measurement, machine learning, and network science research, helping researchers investigate scanning activity, attacks, emerging threats, and long-term changes in malicious Internet behavior.

Researchers and institutions can also become part of the collaboration by using INDNT datasets, contributing unused IPv4 address space, hosting a sensor node, or participating in joint research and publications.

Quantum simulators allow researchers, educators, and students to model quantum computers using classical computing resources, providing an accessible environment for developing algorithms, testing quantum circuits, and exploring how quantum systems behave without requiring access to specialized physical hardware. These tools can support quantum research and education at every stage, from learning fundamental concepts to testing complex algorithms and preparing experiments for eventual execution on real quantum systems.

QREAL provides remote access to real quantum experimental devices, allowing researchers and learners to conduct quantum sensing and quantum computing experiments through a cloud-accessible platform. Rather than limiting hands-on experimentation to those physically located near specialized laboratory equipment, the platform creates opportunities to interact with quantum systems remotely and observe experiments as they are conducted.

Project Compass is a Merit Network initiative that helps Michigan communities and regional partners better understand broadband infrastructure, identify remaining connectivity gaps, and participate in long-term planning efforts. Through mapping and feasibility tools, infrastructure education, community coordination, and practical digital resources, Compass translates complex broadband programs and data into information local leaders and residents can use to understand what is happening in their communities and make more informed decisions.

Created by Merit Network with support from the USDA Broadband Technical Assistance Program, Project Compass is particularly focused on connecting smaller and rural communities with the regional organizations, resources, and planning conversations shaping Michigan’s connectivity future.