diff --git a/.claude/skills/test-ml/SKILL.md b/.claude/skills/test-ml/SKILL.md
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+---
+name: test-ml
+description: Train ML models (GP, NN, ensemble_NN), populate MLflow, and verify they load and evaluate correctly. Use when testing the ML training and inference pipeline end-to-end.
+---
+
+# Test ML Models
+
+Train models with `train_model.py`, then verify they load and evaluate via the `check_model.py` script bundled with this skill (`.claude/skills/test-ml/check_model.py`).
+
+## Parse user intent
+
+- If `$ARGUMENTS` specifies a model type (GP, NN, or ensemble_NN), only test that model type.
+- If `$ARGUMENTS` specifies an experiment name, use `experiments/synapse-<name>/config.yaml`.
+- If no model type is given, test all three: GP, NN, ensemble_NN.
+- If no experiment is given, auto-detect available experiments by globbing `experiments/synapse-*/config.yaml`. Only use experiments whose config contains an `mlflow` section with a `tracking_uri`.
+
+## Pre-flight checks (do these BEFORE any training)
+
+Run all checks and **stop immediately with a clear warning** if any fail:
+
+1. **Conda environment**: Verify `synapse-ml` conda environment exists:
+   ```
+   source ~/miniconda3/etc/profile.d/conda.sh && conda activate synapse-ml
+   ```
+
+2. **Database credentials**: Source `~/db.profile`, then read the config YAML and check that the environment variable named in `database.password_ro_env` is set.
+
+3. **MLflow server**: Read `mlflow.tracking_uri` from the config YAML. Test reachability with a quick socket connection (e.g. `python -c "import socket; socket.create_connection(('<host>', <port>), timeout=5)"`). If unreachable, tell the user to start the MLflow server.
+
+4. **MongoDB**: Test connectivity with a quick pymongo ping:
+   ```
+   python -c "import pymongo; pymongo.MongoClient(host='<host>', port=<port>, serverSelectionTimeoutMS=5000).admin.command('ping')"
+   ```
+   Note: for the MongoDB check, source `~/db.profile` first, then read the database credentials from the config file (host, port, auth, username_ro, password_ro_env).
+
+## Train models
+
+Run training from the `ml/` directory. Each command:
+```
+source ~/db.profile && source ~/miniconda3/etc/profile.d/conda.sh && conda activate synapse-ml && cd <repo_root>/ml && python train_model.py --config_file <config_path> --model <model_type>
+```
+
+- When testing **multiple model types**, run the training commands **in parallel** (use background bash tasks).
+- When testing a **single model type**, run it in the foreground.
+- Wait for all training to complete before proceeding.
+
+## Validate models
+
+After training, run the bundled `check_model.py` for each model type:
+```
+source ~/miniconda3/etc/profile.d/conda.sh && conda activate synapse-ml && python <repo_root>/.claude/skills/test-ml/check_model.py --config_file <config_path> --model <model_type>
+```
+
+## Report results
+
+Provide a summary table:
+- Model type | Train status | Validation status
+- Show `[PASS]` or `[FAIL]` for each
+- For failures, include the error message
diff --git a/.claude/skills/test-ml/check_model.py b/.claude/skills/test-ml/check_model.py
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+#!/usr/bin/env python
+"""
+Check that a model stored in MLflow loads and evaluates correctly,
+using the same download logic as the dashboard.
+
+Usage:
+    python check_model.py --config_file <path/to/config.yaml> --model <GP|NN|ensemble_NN>
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import socket
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from urllib.parse import urlparse
+import pandas as pd
+import torch
+import yaml
+import mlflow
+
+# Import DB connection helper from train_model.py
+_ML_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[3] / "ml"
+sys.path.insert(0, str(_ML_DIR))
+from train_model import connect_to_db
+
+
+MODEL_TYPES = ["GP", "NN", "ensemble_NN"]
+
+
+def parse_arguments():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Verify that an MLflow model loads and predicts with default parameters."
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--config_file",
+        help="Path to the configuration file",
+        type=str,
+        required=True,
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--model",
+        help="Model type: GP, NN, or ensemble_NN",
+        choices=MODEL_TYPES,
+        required=True,
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    print(f"Config file: {args.config_file}, Model type: {args.model}")
+    return args.config_file, args.model
+
+
+def load_config(config_file):
+    if not os.path.exists(config_file):
+        raise RuntimeError(f"Configuration file not found: {config_file}")
+    with open(config_file) as f:
+        return yaml.safe_load(f.read())
+
+
+def enable_amsc_x_api_key(config_dict):
+    """Inject AmSC X-Api-Key header into all MLflow requests (mirrors train_model.py)."""
+    import mlflow.utils.rest_utils as rest_utils
+
+    mlflow_cfg = config_dict.get("mlflow") or {}
+    api_key_env = mlflow_cfg.get("api_key_env")
+    if not api_key_env:
+        raise KeyError(
+            "Missing 'api_key_env' in 'mlflow' configuration for AmSC authentication."
+        )
+    api_key = os.getenv(api_key_env)
+    if api_key is None:
+        raise KeyError(
+            f"Environment variable '{api_key_env}' (from mlflow.api_key_env) is not set."
+        )
+
+    _orig = rest_utils.http_request
+
+    def patched(host_creds, endpoint, method, *args, **kwargs):
+        if "headers" in kwargs and kwargs["headers"] is not None:
+            h = dict(kwargs["headers"])
+            h["X-Api-Key"] = api_key
+            kwargs["headers"] = h
+        else:
+            h = dict(kwargs.get("extra_headers") or {})
+            h["X-Api-Key"] = api_key
+            kwargs["extra_headers"] = h
+        return _orig(host_creds, endpoint, method, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    rest_utils.http_request = patched
+
+
+def check_server_reachable(tracking_uri, timeout=5):
+    """Quick socket check to fail fast if the MLflow server is unreachable."""
+    parsed = urlparse(tracking_uri)
+    host = parsed.hostname
+    port = parsed.port or (443 if parsed.scheme == "https" else 80)
+    try:
+        with socket.create_connection((host, port), timeout=timeout):
+            pass
+        print(f"MLflow server reachable at {host}:{port}")
+    except OSError as e:
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            f"MLflow server at {tracking_uri} is not reachable: {e}"
+        ) from e
+
+
+def download_model(config_dict, model_type):
+    """Download the model from MLflow, exactly as the dashboard does."""
+    if "mlflow" not in config_dict or not config_dict["mlflow"].get("tracking_uri"):
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            "No mlflow.tracking_uri found in config file; cannot load model from MLflow."
+        )
+
+    tracking_uri = config_dict["mlflow"]["tracking_uri"]
+    check_server_reachable(tracking_uri)
+    mlflow.set_tracking_uri(tracking_uri)
+    print(f"MLflow tracking URI: {tracking_uri}")
+
+    # Mirror dashboard authentication logic
+    if tracking_uri == "https://mlflow.american-science-cloud.org":
+        enable_amsc_x_api_key(config_dict)
+
+    experiment = config_dict["experiment"]
+    model_name = f"{experiment}_{model_type}"
+    model_uri = f"models:/{model_name}/latest"
+    print(f"Downloading model '{model_uri}' ...")
+
+    # Same download command as in the dashboard (model_manager.py)
+    model = mlflow.pyfunc.load_model(model_uri).unwrap_python_model().model
+    print(f"Model downloaded successfully: {type(model).__name__}")
+    return model
+
+
+def load_experimental_inputs(config_dict):
+    """Fetch all experimental points from the database and return as a batch input dict."""
+    experiment = config_dict["experiment"]
+    input_variables = config_dict["inputs"]
+    input_names = [v["name"] for v in input_variables.values()]
+
+    db = connect_to_db(config_dict)
+    date_filter = config_dict.get("date_filter", {})
+    df_exp = pd.DataFrame(db[experiment].find({"experiment_flag": 1, **date_filter}))
+
+    if df_exp.empty:
+        raise RuntimeError("No experimental points found in the database.")
+
+    missing = [name for name in input_names if name not in df_exp.columns]
+    if missing:
+        raise RuntimeError(f"Missing input columns in experimental data: {missing}")
+
+    print(f"Fetched {len(df_exp)} experimental points from the database.")
+    return {
+        name: torch.tensor(df_exp[name].values, dtype=torch.float64)
+        for name in input_names
+    }
+
+
+def check_evaluate(model, config_dict):
+    """Call evaluate() with experimental data fetched from the database."""
+    inputs = load_experimental_inputs(config_dict)
+    print(
+        f"Calling model.evaluate() with {len(next(iter(inputs.values())))} experimental points..."
+    )
+    result = model.evaluate(inputs)
+    print("evaluate() succeeded.")
+    print(f"Output keys: {list(result.keys())}")
+    return result
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    config_file, model_type = parse_arguments()
+
+    # Load configuration
+    config_dict = load_config(config_file)
+    print(f"Experiment: {config_dict['experiment']}")
+
+    # Download model from MLflow
+    try:
+        model = download_model(config_dict, model_type)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"[FAIL] Could not download model: {e}")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    # Evaluate with default parameters
+    try:
+        check_evaluate(model, config_dict)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"[FAIL] evaluate() raised an error: {e}")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    print("[PASS] Model loaded and evaluated successfully.")
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
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+# CLAUDE.md
+
+This file provides guidance to AI agents when working with code in this repository.
+
+## Project Overview
+
+Synapse is a framework that couples experimental data, simulations, and machine learning models through a web-based dashboard deployed at NERSC.
+
+## Architecture
+
+- **`dashboard/`** — Trame (Vue.js/Flask) web application. `app.py` is the main entry point. Functionality is split into manager modules: `model_manager.py` (ML models), `parameters_manager.py` (parameter handling), `calibration_manager.py` (simulation calibration), `sfapi_manager.py` (NERSC Superfacility API), `optimization_manager.py` (Bayesian optimization), `state_manager.py`, `error_manager.py`, `outputs_manager.py`. `utils.py` handles data loading.
+- **`ml/`** — PyTorch training pipeline. `train_model.py` is the main script, `Neural_Net_Classes.py` defines network architectures. Supports GP, NN, and ensemble models.
+- **`experiments/`** — YAML config files for each BELLA experiment (inputs, outputs, calibration variables).
+- **`dashboard.Dockerfile`** / **`ml.Dockerfile`** — Container images for GUI and ML training respectively.
+- **`publish_container.py`** — Builds and pushes containers to NERSC registry.
+
+## Key Commands
+
+### Linting
+```bash
+pre-commit run --all-files    # Ruff linting + formatting
+```
+
+### Running the Dashboard Locally
+```bash
+conda-lock install --name synapse-gui dashboard/environment-lock.yml
+conda activate synapse-gui
+python -u dashboard/app.py --port 8080
+```
+Requires MongoDB access via `SF_DB_HOST` and `SF_DB_READONLY_PASSWORD` environment variables.
+
+### Running ML Training Locally
+```bash
+conda-lock install --name synapse-ml ml/environment-lock.yml
+conda activate synapse-ml
+python ml/train_model.py --test --model NN --config_file config.yaml
+```
+
+### Testing ML Models End-to-End
+Use the `/test-ml` skill (defined in `.claude/skills/test-ml/`) to train models, populate MLflow, and verify they load and evaluate correctly. It handles pre-flight checks (conda env, DB, MLflow server), parallel training, and validation.
+
+### Docker
+```bash
+# Build
+docker build --platform linux/amd64 --output type=image,oci-mediatypes=true -t synapse-gui -f dashboard.Dockerfile .
+docker build --platform linux/amd64 --output type=image,oci-mediatypes=true -t synapse-ml -f ml.Dockerfile .
+
+# Publish to NERSC
+python publish_container.py --gui --yes
+python publish_container.py --ml --yes
+```
+
+## Key Dependencies
+
+- **Dashboard**: Trame, Flask, PyTorch, PyMongo, Plotly, BoTorch
+- **ML Training**: PyTorch, GPyTorch, BoTorch, LUME-Model, PyMongo
+- **Environments**: Managed via conda-lock (`environment-lock.yml` in each directory)
+
+## Database
+
+MongoDB stores experimental/simulation data and ML models. Dashboard uses read-only access (`SF_DB_READONLY_PASSWORD`), training uses admin access (`SF_DB_ADMIN_PASSWORD`).
+
+## Deployment
+
+- Dashboard deployed at NERSC Spin (bellasuperfacility.lbl.gov)
+- ML training runs on Perlmutter HPC, triggered via Superfacility API from the dashboard
+- Container registry: `registry.nersc.gov/m558/superfacility/`
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+AGENTS.md
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