Call for applications

HPC Champions: Performance Analysis

Join the first cohort of dRTPs building expertise in performance analysis, with travel and accommodation funding to attend the VI-HPS workshop in Durham.

Applications will open soon See the learning journey

Apply by 23 November2026
Your learning pathwayFollow our curated route or build your own, with SHAREing support
Funded workshopVI-HPS travel & accommodation covered

⏰ Applications open Monday 2 November 2026 and close Monday 23 November 2026 at 23:59 (UK time). Successful applicants will be notified by Monday 14 December 2026.

About HPC Champions

HPC Champions is a SHAREing initiative for digital Research Technical Professionals (dRTPs) who want to build their skills in performance analysis of research software on HPC systems. We provide a curated learning pathway that takes you from foundations to the VI-HPS workshop in Durham, and the SHAREing team will support you in shaping it into a personalised journey that fits your starting point. As a Champion, your travel and accommodation for the workshop are covered.

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A curated pathway

A guided route from foundations to the workshop, so you arrive prepared and get the most from it.

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Made personal

Mentoring from the SHAREing team to adapt the pathway to your experience, skipping what you know and adding what you need.

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Funded workshop

Travel and accommodation covered for a hands-on, expert-led performance engineering workshop in Durham.

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A peer community

Connect with other dRTPs focused on performance, share your work and widen your view of the performance analysis landscape.

The learning journey

All material is free to follow and self-study, so join at the point that matches your experience. Completion is not formally assessed, but working through the steps will significantly increase the value you get from the VI-HPS workshop.

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HPC Champions learning pathway

For dRTPs building skills in performance analysis

A curated route from the command line to the VI-HPS workshop in Durham. Start wherever suits your experience.

6 steps, 1 optional

1

Introduction to UNIX

The Unix Shell
Library Carpentry · On-demand

Command-line and shell essentials.
2

Introduction to HPC

Hands-on Introduction to HPC
EPCC/ARCHER2 · On-demand

What HPC systems are and how to use them.
3

Fundamentals of HPC

High-Performance Computing Concepts Introduction
Durham University · On-demand

The core concepts that underpin performance.
4

Scientific Programming in C/C++

Introduction to Scientific Software Programming in C and C++
Durham University and DiRAC · On-demand

Later topics apply equally to Fortran users.
5

Parallelism: MPI and OpenMP

Message-Passing with MPI
EPCC/ARCHER2 · On-demand

Shared Memory Programming with OpenMP
EPCC/ARCHER2 · On-demand

Distributed- and shared-memory programming.
opt
Optional

Refresher: Fundamentals of HPC

High-Performance Computing Concepts Introduction
Durham University · On-demand

Consolidate your knowledge before the workshop.
6

VI-HPS Workshop, Durham

55th VI-HPS Tuning Workshop
VI-HPS, Durham University · Scheduled (in-person) · 17-20 May 2027 · Durham

Put it all into practice with leading performance analysis tools.

Build your own pathway. The route above is a suggestion. Everyone starts from a different place, so we encourage you to build a pathway that fits your experience, skipping what you already know and adding what you need. In the External Training Catalogue you can load this route, reorder it, add optional courses and download your own version. Mentoring sessions with the SHAREing team will be available to help you plan your pathway.

The VI-HPS workshop

Three days of hands-on training with leading performance analysis tools, alongside an introduction to the performance engineering cycle, a systematic approach to analysing and improving application performance.

MAQAO

Code analysis and optimisation tooling.

Score-P, Scalasca & Cube

Instrumentation, measurement and analysis of parallel applications.

Vampir

Visual exploration of performance traces.

Bring your own code. The workshop ends with significant time to apply the tools to your own software. If you don't have a suitable code, we can supply some.

What to expect from the cohort

Alongside the learning journey, we are developing activities to support Champions through the year.

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Online kickoff

An overview of the learning journey and an introduction to the cohort.

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Support to build your own pathway

Everyone starts from a different place. Mentoring sessions with the SHAREing team will be available to help you design a personalised learning pathway based on your starting point and goals.

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Assessment methodology session

An introduction to SHAREing's performance assessment approach, ahead of the more tool-focused workshop.

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Early testbed access

Explore novel hardware and tools ahead of the workshop.

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Cohort meet-ups

Regular get-togethers through the year to showcase and discuss your work.

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Workshop social

An evening get-together in Durham during the workshop.

Details will be confirmed to the cohort as plans are finalised.

Who should apply?

You do not need to be an expert. The learning journey is designed to bring you up to speed.

You are a dRTP interested in performance analysis and optimisation of research software.
You work with, or are preparing to work with, HPC systems.
You can attend the VI-HPS workshop in Durham, 17-20 May 2027.
You want to engage with, and contribute to, a cohort of peers.

How to apply

Apply

Complete the application form by 23 November.

Hear from us

The SHAREing team reviews applications and notifies applicants by 14 December.

Get started

Join the online kickoff event and begin the learning journey.

Ready to become a Champion?

Applications close 23 November.

Applications will open soon

Help us spread the word

Know a colleague who would benefit? Please share this call through your networks!

Questions?

Get in touch via our Contact page.