Research IT: RSE and Apps Support

Robert Hainesrobert.haines@manchester.ac.uk

Research IT Club, 10th May 2017

SoftwareEngineering

Research

SoftwareEngineer

ResearcherDeveloper

HERE Researcher

Simon Hettrick: http://slides.com/simonhettrick/why-we-need-careers-for-research-software-engineers-10-13-17

What is a Research Software Engineer?

The Craftsperson and the Scholar

James Hetherington: http://www.software.ac.uk/blog/2012-11-09-craftsperson-and-scholar

Are you a Research Software Engineer?

• Are you employed to develop software for research?

• Are you spending more time developing software than conducting research?

• Are you employed as a postdoctoral researcher, even though you predominantly work on software development?

• Are you the person who does computers in your research group?

• Are you sometimes not named on research papers despite playing a fundamental part in developing the software used to create them?

• Do you lack the metrics needed to progress your academic career, like papers and conference presentations, despite having made a significant contribution through software?

https://www.software.ac.uk/blog/2016-11-17-not-so-brief-history-research-software-engineers

Example projects with RSE involvement

eTekkatho

• Educational resources for the Myanmar academic community

• Provides a free digital library of research and learning resources to students, academics and librarians in Myanmar• Local installations at 18 locations throughout Myanmar• Low bandwidth, fast loading• Low device specification requirements

• Development phase: 100% FTE RSE for 6 months (£26,400)

• Support phase (current): 20% FTE RSE for 5 months (£4,400)

• http://www.etekkatho.org/

IDInteraction

• Capturing indicative usage models in software for implicit device interaction• “Automated Behavioural Coding” (ABC)

• Two-phase project using two different RSEs with different expertise:• Exploratory development of ABC platform

• 50% FTE for 1 year (£26,400)

• Data analysis – current work• 100% FTE for 6 months (£26,400)

• This split was not in the original plan!• Flexibility of the RSE pool allows for changes in focus

• http://idinteraction.cs.manchester.ac.uk/

RSE noticeboard

EPSRC RSE Fellowships call

• RSE Fellowships available for up to 5 years – looking for:• Exceptional individuals in the software field

• Ambassadors for the research software community

• Future research leaders in the RSE community

• Only two submissions per institution – Research IT coordinating

• Closing date for internal outline submissions: Friday 19th May• Outlines will be evaluated, scored and ranked by an internal panel

• Two will be selected for further support and full submission to the EPSRC

• More information on the blog• Contact me if you are interested: robert.haines@manchester.ac.uk

https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/calls/research-software-engineer-fellowships-ii/

RSE Conference 2017, Manchester

• September 7 – 8

• Museum of Science and Industry

• Talks and workshops

• Last year:• Over 200 attendees

• From 14 countries

Training and drop-in sessions

Training courses: coming soon

• Automation and Make 6 Jun

• Mathematica Summer Workshop 27 – 29 Jun• Call for participation open now

• https://researchitnews.org/2017/04/27/cfp-mathematica/

• More information + online courses here: http://bit.ly/1Kmyu3s

Drop in sessions

• Every two weeks around campus

• No appointment necessary

• Anything Research IT related

• If we can’t solve your problem right away, we’ll get back to you!

• Come and see us (1400-1500):• 17 May: Michael Smith Building, Cafe

• 31 May: Chemistry, Concourse Foyer

• See the blog/newsletter for other dates as they are announced

How to contact us

• Website:• http://www.itservices.manchester.ac.uk/research/

• IT Services Support Centre:• https://supportcentre.manchester.ac.uk

• Twitter:• @UoM_eResearch

• Blog:• https://researchitnews.org/• Sign up to our newsletter here