The NSF (National Science Foundation) ACCESS (Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support) program provides researchers nationwide with access to advanced computing resources, including high-performance computing (HPC) clusters, large-memory nodes, GPUs, cloud resources, storage, and more. Here’s how researchers at the University of Michigan can get started.
Step 1: Understand What ACCESS Offers
ACCESS gathers a range of supercomputing clusters available for research across the U.S.
Each of these sites may offer different combinations of:
- CPU (“core”) compute
- Large-memory (largemem) nodes
- GPU resources
- Storage services
- Big Data compute environments
- Cloud-based VMs and services
Explore available resources:
View the list of sites and their features here:
ACCESS Cluster Overview & Details
Tip: Review the precise specifications, features (e.g., GPU type, storage), and any special configurations to determine the best cluster for your scientific goals.
Step 2: Estimate Your Resource Needs
Knowing what you need (in terms of computing hours, GPU time, etc.) will streamline your allocation application.
a) Use the ACCESS Calculator:
Try the credit exchange calculator:
ACCESS Exchange Calculator
This tool allows you to input the number of ACCESS credits you may want and compares what that value equals across different clusters. For example, 1,000 ACCESS credits could equal:
- 7 GPU hours on NCSA Delta AI
- 10,000 service units on TAMU Launch
b) Use the U-M calculator:
Estimate ACCESS Credits & Resources
If you know how much resource time you might need, you can find which ACCESS site has it available and how many credits you would need to get those resources. For example, you require 1 million GPU hours. In the calculator, you would input 1M GPU hours, and you’ll get a list of the 9 clusters/sites that have GPUs available, and how many ACCESS credits you would need on each cluster to get 1M GPU hours.
Tip: Make note of your estimates. It will be helpful when applying for funding and when writing your project summary.
Step 3: Decide Which Allocation Type You Need
ACCESS offers four allocation/project types, each differing in application complexity and available ACCESS credits:
| Allocation Type | Credits | Application Complexity | When to Apply |
| EXPLORE | Up to 400K | 1-paragraph summary + CV(s) | Anytime |
| DISCOVER | Up to 1.5M | 1-page proposal | Anytime |
| ACCELERATE | Up to 3M | 3-page proposal, panel review | Anytime |
| MAXIMIZE | >3M | 10-page proposal, merit review | Bi-annually |
Compare allocation types and see detailed requirements:
Project Types & Requirements
Most researchers can easily start with an EXPLORE allocation.
Requirements:
- Brief paragraph/project summary (1-2 paragraphs)
- PI/Co-PI CVs (PDF)
- Project title, keywords
Note: The EXPLORE app typically takes 10–20 minutes to fill out. If approved, you’ll receive 200,000 credits immediately; the remaining 200,000 credits are provided after a simple project update.
Personal note: Many users receive approval notifications within a day.
Step 4: Prepare Your Application
Eligibility
Work from any field of study, and funding from any source, is eligible.
- Faculty, research staff, postdocs, and graduate students at UM can qualify.
- Use your University of Michigan credentials and email address during the application process.
Gather Materials
- Project description/summary
- CVs for all PIs and Co-PIs (PDF format)
- Planned usage (clusters/sites, estimated credits/duration)
- Project title & keywords
Step 5: Submit Your Application
- Go to ACCESS allocations portal
- Log in (you may need to register a new account with your U-M information).
- Choose your allocation type.
- Fill out the required forms, upload CV(s), and your summary/proposal.
- Submit!
EXPLORE allocations: Submit anytime.
Other allocations: Submit anytime for DISCOVER and ACCELERATE;
MAXIMIZE is reviewed twice a year.
Next two application periods
December 15, 2025 → January 31, 2026, w/ awards starting on April 1, 2026,
June 15, 2026 → July 31, 2026, w/ awards starting on October 1, 2026.
Next December 15, 2026 → January 31, 2027
Step 6: Await Your Decision
- EXPLORE: Expect fast responses, often in less than 24 hours.
- Others: Timelines vary; details provided during submission.
If approved: You will get an onboarding email with instructions to access your allocated clusters. You will need to request accounts at each site and follow the “getting started” guide for each cluster.
Step 7: Use Your Awarded Resources
- Follow cluster-specific onboarding instructions.
- Inform your collaborators about project details, IDs, and how to join your project on ACCESS.
- Monitor your credit usage and report as required for larger allocations.
Step 8: Reporting & Renewals
- Some allocations require brief usage reports/final reports, or updates to extend/renew allocations.
- Keep your contact information and University of Michigan affiliation up to date.