RIO-NM logo with teal abstract cyber connections background

RIO-NM

Research Infrastructure Optimization for New Mexico (RIO-NM)

RIO-NM is working to enhance the research infrastructure at New Mexico’s established research-intensive institutions and help create new research infrastructure at emerging research institutions (ERI). This will include guiding these institutions to acquire pedagogical, instrumentation, and research funding from federal and state agencies. Across all institutions in the state, we will create early career pathways for students, researchers, and faculty through highly curated activities. Working closely with our partners, RIO-NM will facilitate workforce development that will specifically include students from the underrepresented minority (URM) populations of the state.

Project Details

  • $8 million
  • 2024 to 2028
  • PI: Ganesh Balakrishnan, NM EPSCoR/UNM
  • Co-PIs
    • Jason Arviso, NTU
    • Lorie Liebrock, NMT
    • Patricia Sullivan, NMSU
    • Philip Lister, CNM
  • National Science Foundation (NSF) award #OIA-2435071

The work of RIO-NM is organized around three cores: Cyberinfrastructure (CI) Core, Research Pathways Core, and Administrative Core. 

RIO-NM is investing in four pilot projects at partner institutions:

Administrative Core Objectives:

  • Conduct Strategic planning and evaluation activities to develop a coherent science, technology, and innovation vision for New Mexico
  • Support the Jurisdictional Steering Committee to ensure equitable representation and engagement across all ecosystem stakeholders, including ERIs
  • Connect individuals and institutions to the research ecosystem through events, workshops, and communication activities.
  • Develop research knowledge and skills in students, faculty, administration, and policymakers.

Cyberinfrastructure Core Objectives:

  • Support campus CI planning for ERIs
  • Engage state of New Mexico research and agency network infrastructure collaborators.
  • Develop a statewide model for science instrumentation informed by research requirements for instrument data precision, data sharing, and data sovereignty.
  • Develop a statewide CI model to support AI-enabled shared-infrastructure for ERIs
  • Plan for research and science-oriented networks.

Pathways Core Objects:

  • Support campus-level planning to develop new pathways, and strengthen existing pathways, to connect ERI students to STEM degrees and careers.
  • Cultivate faculty research connections between ERI and established research institutions through collaboration workshops and seeds.
  • Improve communication and recruitment of ERI faculty and students for National Lab opportunities
  • Create collaborative networks for student and faculty research pathways focused on URM students, including those from Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU).