Tuck IT Knowledge Base
Research Computing Hub
Research at the Tuck School of Business is supported by a comprehensive ecosystem of high‑performance computing, advanced research software, institutional datasets, and expert consulting. This article consolidates computing, storage, software, data, AI, and support resources available to Tuck faculty and post‑doctoral researchers, with particular relevance for marketing research.
High‑Performance Computing Infrastructure
Dartmouth provides a tiered, no‑cost research computing environment operated by Research Computing & Data (RCD). These systems support compute‑intensive, data‑heavy, and interactive research workflows across disciplines.
Discovery Cluster (HPC)
- Linux‑based (RHEL 8) high‑performance computing cluster
- ~130 compute nodes with over 6,000 CPU cores and 120,000 GPU cores
- >12 TB of aggregate memory and ~3.2 PB of total storage across systems
- Optimized for large‑scale batch processing and compute‑intensive workloads
- Baseline access is free under the Research Computing Bill‑of‑Rights
Andes & Polaris (Large‑Memory & Interactive Systems)
- Shared‑memory systems designed for large‑RAM applications
- Ideal for GUI‑based programs, interactive analysis, and environment building
- Common uses include R package compilation, conda environments, Apptainer images, and software development
- Fast local scratch space improves performance for iterative workflows
Open OnDemand (OOD)
- Web‑based interface for accessing HPC resources
- Run RStudio, JupyterLab, MATLAB, and VS Code directly in a browser
- Eliminates the need for command‑line logins while supporting full HPC power
Research Storage & Cloud Services
DartFS (Research Network File System)
- 50 GB personal home directory for every researcher
- 1 TB shared lab volume for faculty at no cost
- Mountable from Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Accessible on‑campus, via VPN, and from HPC systems
- Automatic snapshots (daily, weekly, monthly)
Scratch & Secure Storage
- Up to 5 TB of scratch space via the Discovery cluster free tier
- Secure lab volumes available for regulated or sensitive data
- Consult Research Computing early for compliance guidance
Personal Cloud Storage
- 2 TB OneDrive storage with enterprise security and daily backups
- Covered by an institutional BAA and approved for all data levels
- Google Workspace storage available for collaboration
- For research datasets, DartFS or secure HPC storage is preferred
Statistical, Programming & Research Software
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Core Statistical Packages: SAS, SPSS, Stata, JMP, MATLAB
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Programming & Data Science: R, RStudio, Python (Anaconda), Julia, Jupyter Notebooks
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Mathematical & Bayesian Modeling: Mathematica, Maple, JAGS
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Qualitative Analysis: Atlas.ti, NVivo
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Databases & Spatial Tools: PostgreSQL, GDAL, GEOS
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Writing & Collaboration: Overleaf Professional, BioRender (discounted)
AI & Generative AI for Research
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AmosAI: Centralized access to OpenAI, Anthropic, Grok, and DeepSeek models
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Microsoft Copilot: Available through M365 with enterprise‑grade data protection
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Dartmouth Chat: Commercial and local open‑weight models (GPT‑OSS 120B, Gemma 3, LLaMA 3.2)
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API Access: Unlimited, cost‑free API access to Dartmouth‑hosted local models
Consulting, Training & Tuck Research Computing (TRC)
- Statistical consulting, research design, and advanced analysis
- WRDS data extraction, merging, and preparation
- Programming support (Python, R, SAS, Stata, SPSS, MATLAB, C/C++)
- Custom simulations, data transformations, and Excel add‑ins
- Workshops, seminars, and one‑on‑one consultations
Note: TRC services are primarily faculty‑facing. Post‑doctoral researchers should coordinate requests through their supervising Tuck faculty member. Services may be billed to faculty accounts and are prioritized based on research impact and urgency.
Getting in Touch with Tuck Research Computing
Tuck Research Computing is available to support faculty‑led research projects and to advise post‑doctoral researchers working with Tuck faculty. Early engagement is encouraged, particularly for projects involving complex analyses, large datasets, sensitive data, or advanced computing needs.
Tuck School of Business · Dartmouth College · Research Computing & Data