Research Software Engineering
Improving access, productivity, outcomes, and impact for research software engineering at the University, through a proposed RSE Central Platform that supports community building, employment security, and defined career paths.
Focus on RSE
The Academic Convenors are:
- Working with senior decision makers and influencers across the academy to demonstrate the importance of Research Software Engineering (RSE) to research outcomes and impact
- Proposing creation of a coordinated RSE entity/community - e.g. RSE Central Platform and associated community of practice
- Advocating for increased employment security and creation of attractive career paths for RSEs
- Promoting improved integration of RSE activities in the research project lifecycle from concept to milestones such as publication, infrastructure development, commercialisation, community engagement, and shutdown
- Working towards development and maintenance of technology recommendations across RSE activity
- Coordinating with external organisations developing resources in support of RSEs
RSE Proposal aims to achieve ...
- Improved research productivity through maintenance of a highly skilled and connected RSE workforce
- Reduced time and effort in recruitment of RSEs
- Reduced research cost through minimising need to use external RSE resources
- Reduced research cost through higher utilisation of RSE resources within projects
- Reduced research system maintenance costs through consolidation of software technologies and improved development standards
- Lowered research commercialisation barriers due to improved software development standards, handling of software architecture and IP, and other software-relating matters in this space
- Improved outcomes from digital research, and broader application of digital research, through better access to and improved knowledge of available software tools and capabilities
RSE Proposal Involves
Improving job security for RSEs
Strengthen opportunities for career progression at UoM, nurturing diversity, creativity and innovation, support great talent and contribute to making Melbourne a destination of choice for RSEs and researchers at all levels.
Strengthening communication, connection and community
A platform that supports the community, coordination and operations of RSE at the University with a focus on community capacity building, training, engagement and advocacy, and knowledge sharing.
Improving outcomes in RSE
Fundamental investigator-driven research is the engine of discovery. The proposed platform will advance research success through targeted investment, enhanced cross-disciplinary partnerships and a renewed emphasis on translation.
Why Research Software Engineering, and why now?
The demand for RSEs in a range of research projects around the world is increasing because of:
- Use of big data across multiple domains
- Increased use of data analytics
- Increased need to maintain data reproducibility, longevity and integrity
- Need for bespoke software and ongoing support to maintain it
- Fast paced changes in open source software
- Complexity of cyber security and data privacy requirements for research data
As a leading research intensive organisation, the University is affected by all of these trends.
Current RSE environment at Melbourne
At the University, the number of RSE positions has increased but:
- Many RSE staff are hired on a temporary or per project basis, dependent on grant funding
- RSE staff are needed in private industry where salary can be higher
- RSE staff are located across domains, projects, Faculties and COO-P
- RSE staff qualifications and experience are varied
- A central register of RSE staff and projects or coordinated community of practice exists
- There are no university-wide guidelines for RSE technology or practices
- Generally, it is difficult for research staff to be confident they are hiring the right RSE staff.
This space is moving rapidly globally and to stay competitive we need to evolve the way we work.
The proposed RSE Central Platform aims to address these issues as well as:
- Strengthen research IP and commercialisation opportunities
- Recommending and supporting technology use that is fit for purpose
- Championing best practice
- Shared approach to recruitment, knowledge and support
- Aligning projects to reduce duplication
Proposal: RSE Central Platform
We're outlining a proposal for how the University could provide better job security, a stronger sense of community, and improved outcomes in Research Software Engineering (RSE).
This platform would coordinate RSE resources embedded within research teams, without centralising those resources or creating a separate RSE workforce.
By working for the University in secure positions and having dedicated time reserved for community activities, RSEs with long-term positions underwritten by the Faculty would be better placed to support the activities below.
Benefits
Community building
Support community building through cross campus activities like internal conferences, seminars and a community of practice.
Knowledge sharing and advice
Provide input into internal recommendations for development stack and software tools for research and help embed these recommendations.
Training
Help provide training and workshops to researchers and research support staff in digital skills and research methodology involving RSE.
Mentoring
Mentor new RSEs, share knowledge of University systems, processes, infrastructure, projects and research environment.
Research systems
Provide ongoing support and continuity for research systems maintained for engagement or being commercialised, such as websites and databases.
Support
Assist with triage of support requests that involve Faculty or domain specific digital tools.
Best practice champions
Represent the University in various forms of engagement such as digital standards and recommendations.
How would the RSE Central Platform work?
Head to the Research Gateway for further detail on this proposal, including case studies and FAQs. You'll need to be logged in with your University of Melbourne SSO staff ID to access these resources.
Proposed RSE Platform (Research Gateway)
Feedback
We welcome your feedback and comments on the RSE Central Platform proposal and suggestions for case studies.
Email the DRAC team at petascale-campus@unimelb.edu.au