As demand for AI-enabled research continues to grow, institutions across higher education are facing a common challenge: how to develop the skilled workforce needed to operate advanced computing infrastructure and support researchers using AI tools. This session will highlight two complementary workforce development models designed to address this need. The RMACC Student System Administrator Cohort provides hands-on training in research computing operations, bringing together students from multiple institutions to gain practical experience supporting production high-performance computing environments. In parallel, the AI Unlocked workshop series—developed through the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Pilot—introduces researchers and technical staff to applied AI workflows and access to national-scale computing resources through national and regional training events. Panelists will discuss lessons learned in designing these programs, approaches for scaling training beyond a single institution, and how regional and national initiatives can work together to build sustainable AI workforce pipelines.
