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Purdue Center for Research Software Engineering

Image of the first Purdue RSE kickoff meeting. — Purdue RSE Center kick-off meeting led by Carol Song in 2024

Purdue Center for Research Software Engineering (aka the RSE center) is a university approved center within the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing. Its official establishment recognizes the increasingly vital role that software plays in all fields of scientific research, and formalizes RCAC’s software engineering efforts at RCAC to better support research at Purdue. The RSE center’s mission is to help accelerate research and increase their impacts through the creation of innovative, robust and sustainable research software.

Purdue RSE Services

Code development

Consulting

High-Performance Computing

Proposal collaboration

Research Software

Software configuration and deployment

Software design

Training

Visualization

Website and Web Application Development

Why Use Our Services

With decades of work experience in academia and industry, our team has the skills to provide solutions conforming to the latest standards.

We develop with the latest industry standards and best practices, producing quality, well-documented, and tested software backed by version control.

We safeguard software with a security-first mindset from the start of the development lifecycle.

Purdue RSE Teams

Envision Center

The Envision Center provides novel solutions to effectively communicate complex research concepts. Computer graphics, advanced visualization, auditory (sound), haptic (touch), and multimodal interaction integrate with state-of-the-art high performance computation to assist researchers, instructors, and leaders in their quest for new knowledge and innovative products.

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Scientific Solutions Group

The Scientific Solutions Group (SSG) develops innovative cyberinfrastructure solutions to help advance scientific discovery and education, and enable greater research reproducibility and impact at Purdue and beyond.

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Does my research software project have these covered?

If not, then RSE support may be a solution for helping ensure they are.

Hosting

HPC Access & Use

Project Design

Sustainability

Environment Management

Testing

Documentation

Coding Standards

Version Control

Access Control

Product Design

Logging

Logistics (workflow, PR's, change mgmt., etc...)

Build Tools

Who is a Research Software Engineer (RSE)?

A Research Software Engineer (RSE) combines professional software engineering expertise with an intimate understanding of research.

The US Research Software Engineer Association (US-RSE) defines an RSE as:

"Research Software Engineers [...] encompass those who regularly use expertise in programming to advance research. This includes researchers who spend a significant amount of time programming, full-time software engineers writing code to solve research problems, and those somewhere in-between."

In short, RSEs design, write, and maintain software that is used to support, disseminate, or undertake research.

FAQ's

What is Research Software Engineering?

Research Software Engineering refers to the application of software engineering practices and principles to scientific research. It involves the development, maintenance, and optimization of software tools, libraries, and systems that are critical for research projects across various domains.

Why do I need Research Software Engineering (RSE)?

RSE ensures that the software used in research is robust, reliable, and sustainable. It helps streamline research workflows, improve reproducibility, and enhance collaboration. Without proper software engineering practices, research projects may encounter issues like code fragility, reproducibility problems, and difficulties in scaling.

My team focuses on <science area> and we're not full-time developers so do we really need Research Software Engineering (RSE)?

Even if your team primarily focuses on scientific research, having RSE expertise can significantly benefit your projects. RSE practices help in developing software tools tailored to your specific research needs, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of your workflows.

Won't adding Research Software Engineering (RSE) practices just add overhead and slow things down?

While adopting RSE practices may require an initial investment of time and resources, the long-term benefits outweigh the costs. RSE practices help streamline development, improve code quality, and enhance collaboration, ultimately saving time and reducing the risk of project delays in the future.

Would the RSE Center train my team to do Research Software Engineering or be RSEs themselves and what's the difference?

The RSE Center can provide training to your team on RSE practices, enabling them to effectively develop and maintain research software. Additionally, the Purdue RSE Center employs RSE professionals who can collaborate with your team as experts in software engineering and research best practices.

Can the Research Software Engineer (RSE) Center provide my team with an RSE that could work with us remotely or embedded?

Yes, the Purdue RSE Center offers flexible arrangements depending on your project's requirements and preferences.

How much will it cost?

TBD

Can you help me add to my proposal so I can get money allocated to Research Software Engineering?

Absolutely! The Purdue RSE center can assist you in crafting a compelling proposal that highlights the importance of RSE for your research project and outlines the potential benefits of investing in RSE activities and support.

How can I include RSE in my Proposal?

Through PIP, Purdue's Proposal Information Portal, Purdue faculty can select The Center for Research Software Engineering as an approved university non-DP center or core affiliated with this proposal. This is located in the "Project Details" category.

Would mentioning Research Software Engineering in the proposal or in reports help me?

Yes, mentioning Resarch Software Engineering in your proposal or reports demonstrates your commitment to adopting best practices in software development and enhancing the reproducibility and impact of your research. It also signals to funding agencies and collaborators that you are proactive in addressing key challenges in scientific computing and research software development.

Contact Us

Want to request RSE support or learn more? Please fill out the form at the "contact us" link below.