Staff Spotlight:
Juan Perafan
Next on our Staff Spotlight, we have Juan Perafan, Assistant Research Scientist at ARCH. Juan has been part of the team since April 2024.
Q. What inspired you to pursue the career you have today?
JP: “My career path evolved from my exciting journey as a professor where I utilized high-performance computing resources to support my research in the integration of cutting-edge AI solutions to tackle challenges in the fields of mobile robotics, intelligent transportation, and enhanced visual information systems along with the development of advanced 3D mapping techniques. This experience sparked and nurtured a strong interest for HPC as well as valuable skills in programming and navigating complex HPC environments, which further motivated me to pursue a career in this field where I could continue to make use of the expertise I had built and contribute to the advancement of HPC.”
Q. What is your favorite aspect of your job?
JP: “The most interesting part of this job is that the HPC field is constantly changing. The field never remains constant, so I must be prepared to learn at every instance, and it inspires me to use cutting-edge technologies and become a better programmer. This environment makes my work intellectually exciting and guarantees that I am constantly learning and evolving. This culture promotes a learning curve and the ability to adapt to our users’ demands.”
Q. What is the most interesting project you've worked on here?
JP: “One of the most interesting projects I’ve worked on here involved the implementation and integration of a new version of ColdFront, a resource allocation management system for our HPC environment. I was responsible for developing a Python script to synchronize user information between ColdFront and our LDAP system. This project significantly enhanced the user experience by streamlining resource allocation processes and improving overall system security, while also reducing administrative overhead.”
Q. What is a skill that’s important to have in your role?
JP: “In my role, two crucial skills are essential: continuous learning and strong communication skills.
Continuous learning is important because the HPC field is always evolving with new technologies and advancements. To effectively support users and maintain a high level of service, I believe it’s vital to keep learning and adapting to these changes.
Strong communication skills are equally important, as clear and effective communication is key in this role. It helps in understanding user needs, explaining complex technical concepts, and resolving issues efficiently. Good communication fosters positive relationships with users and contributes to a more productive and collaborative environment.”
Q. What are your goals for the next few months/years?
JP: “In the coming months, I aim to improve my knowledge of the HPC technologies and tools used in our group, including SLURM and OOD, among others.
Additionally, I’m working on two important projects. The first involves developing a new tool to improve resource utilization reporting, which aims to provide valuable insights into HPC usage patterns, allowing for data-driven decisions regarding resource allocation and optimization. The second project focuses on enhancing our HPC benchmarking processes by implementing more robust and standardized procedures to accurately evaluate system performance and pinpoint areas for improvement.”
Q. What do you like to do outside of work?
JP: “I am an avid reader, especially drawn to novels, particularly those in the science fiction, realism and espionage genres. I also greatly enjoy watching independent films.”