DOI:10.5281/zenodo.1183562

n=417

Who writes all the software?

The Research Software Engineer is a new role in research.

It combines an intimate understanding of research with professional software engineering expertise

Key achievements

• Worldwide adoption of the RSE title
• A sustainable society for RSE in the UK and national associations in 8 other countries
• Self-sustaining RSE Groups at 31 UK universities
• Adoption of the role into UKRI and research councils, inc. RSE Fellowships from EPSRC and STFC
• Achieved almost entirely with volunteer effort
• UK has world leadership in an area that will be increasingly vital to research

Why be an RSE?

• Right at the cutting edge of research

• Use the tools and languages that are best suited to the job

• Pick and choose the aspects of the research career that you like

• Only a decade old, so plenty of room to do something spectacular

https://www.software.ac.uk/blog/2013-08-23-ten-reasons-be-research-software-engineer

And why not?

• Still not achieved parity with research career (but it will happen)

• Currently better support for RSEs in RSE Groups (but it will change)

Culture change requires an understanding of incentives

Software

(Parts of) books

Journal articles

Physical artefacts

Exhibitions and performances

Other documents

Digital artefacts

Fortunately, we're not alone...

...there are many vital-but-unrecognised roles in academia

The hidden REF is a competition that recognises all research outputs and every role that makes research possible

www.hidden-ref.org

It's an exciting (and good) time to be in a non-traditional role in acaemia