The National Science Foundation has awarded $8 million to the state’s EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) to lead the Research Infrastructure Optimization for New Mexico project (RIO-NM), a transformative initiative connecting New Mexico's significant research resources with its network of Emerging Research Institutions. Researchers from New Mexico Tech will be an essential part of this project.

Building upon years of experience in managing expansive research collaborations, RIO-NM represents the next evolution of the NM EPSCoR’s work, guided by the strategic vision and continued support of the New Mexico Jurisdictional Steering Committee.         

 Lorie Liebrock

The project unites researchers and administrators from institutions across New Mexico in a collaborative effort led by Ganesh Balakrishnan, Director of NM EPSCoR and Professor at the University of New Mexico, along with the following co-investigators:

• Dr. Lorie Liebrock, Director of the New Mexico Cybersecurity Center of Excellence and Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at NMT
• Jason Arviso, Vice President of Operations at Navajo Technical University
• Philip Lister, Dean of the School of Math, Science, and Engineering at Central New Mexico Community College
• Patricia Sullivan, Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Associate Dean for Outreach and Recruitment at the College of Engineering, New Mexico State University

The project is structured around three core areas:

1. Cyberinfrastructure Core: Focused on the intersection of digital and institutional interconnections to ensure robust cyberinfrastructure for research, provide access to research platforms, and facilitate the discovery and utilization of research resources statewide
2. Research Pathways Core: Aimed at developing opportunities for New Mexico students and faculty, with a focus on Emerging Research Institutions, to participate and advance in New Mexico's larger research ecosystem
3. Administrative Core: Tasked with providing overall coordination and support for the initiative and developing the Science and Technology Plan for New Mexico to ensure sustainable and cohesive growth of New Mexico's research ecosystem

“The NMCCoE is excited to be leading the development of Large Language Models to facilitate increasing research collaboration and productivity in the state. This particular project is officially part of the Cyberinfrastructure Core, but it also contributes to the Research Pathways Core,” said Lorie Liebrock. “As the director of NMCCoE, I am very pleased to be part of a group that is really doubling down on improving research collaboration and infrastructure for New Mexico; that is part of NMCCoE’s cybersecurity mission and it is exciting to work with this group of colleagues."

Liebrock added, “The first machine to support the Internal Large Language Model (ILLM) development is currently in the order process and the team of students have been hired for the project. From the overarching perspective, we have had a number of virtual meetings to discuss how to integrate and support infrastructure for the state, as well as starting to draft the RIO-NM strategic plan. We will be holding an in-person meeting Jan. 14 to finalize the strategic plan and to continue our collaborative development of infrastructure and research pathways.”

Balakrishnan said, “RIO-NM represents an unprecedented level of collaboration across New Mexico's diverse research institutions. By connecting our emerging research institutions with established research universities, national labs, and industry partners, we aim to create new pathways for students and faculty to engage in cutting-edge research that will drive innovation and economic growth in our state.”

The Cyberinfrastructure Core and Research Pathways Core will implement pilot projects and seed funding initiatives to test and scale new approaches to building research infrastructure.

RIO-NM is funded by the National Science Foundation's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). The project officially began in Sept. 2024 and will run through 2028.