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Purdue Center for Research Software Engineering
Purdue RSE Staff
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.
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.
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.
What Our Collaborators Say
“
Across nearly a decade and a half, my group’s research
accomplishments have been enabled and enhanced by collaboration with RSE and its earlier
incarnations. In particular, this enablement has been central on large, center-level funding
projects with the DoD that required tailored technical and computing solutions.
Dr. Dan DeLaurentis
Purdue University
“
I am incredibly grateful to the Rosen Center for Advanced
Computing for their invaluable assistance with the refinement of our autism diagnostic tool.
Their team provided exceptional support in programming, integrating advanced technologies, and
optimizing our tool’s functionality. Throughout the entire process, they demonstrated not
only their deep technical expertise but also a genuine commitment to improving lives. Their
collaboration has made a significant difference for our project.
Dr. Brandon Keehn
Purdue University
“
Our lab recently transitioned to Purdue from another
institution, which required the transfer of many terabytes of data. RCAC played an integral role
in helping us understand the best storage and processing options for our data and analysis
needs. We are greatly appreciative of the support they provided to smoothly transition to
working on the Negishi cluster.
Dunn Lab
Purdue University
“
Ever since I joined Purdue in 2007, my collaboration with RSE
and its scientists have played a big role in our group’s academic success. Specifically,
we were able to collaboratively write and win several NSF grants to enable unique computational
capabilities for water resources applications. We always count on our RSE collaborators and
facilities for meeting our HPC computational needs.
Dr. Venkatesh Merwade
Purdue University
“
The response from students has been incredible. The excitement
and reward of the experience is heightened by exploring content collaboratively… They
report far better comprehension of multidimensional data compared to traditional presentations.
Dr. Danny Milisavljevic
Purdue University
“
With Collab XR, I’ve been able to let students interact
with the data in a way that isn’t possible on a screen. They can rotate, enlarge, walk
through, and even switch between radar variables—revealing spatial relationships that may
precede hazardous weather.
Dr. Robin Tanamachi
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
“
Over the years, I have had the pleasure of collaborating with
the RSE team on various innovative projects, particularly in developing “serious
learning” games like Global Contest, a groundbreaking strategy game. The RSE team has
consistently delivered exceptional results, always on time and with meticulous attention to
detail. Their professionalism and dedication to excellence have profoundly impacted the success
of our projects.
Dr. Sorin Matei
Purdue University
“
The Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC), through its
Research Software Engineering (RSE) Center, played a pivotal role in enabling a competitive
platform for our December drone competition. Their team was a true partner—quickly
understanding our needs, supporting competitor engagement, and expertly capturing performance
data throughout the virtual phase. We look forward to working with RCAC again.
Patricia Hanlon
Managing Director, Purdue Center on AI for Digital, Autonomous
and Augmented Aviation (AIDA3)
“
My team and I have used RCAC compute resources for more than
15 years. Generations of PhD and master’s students have conducted their HPC work on RCAC
clusters. The RSE team has always been there when we needed support. I cannot imagine our
computational research running more smoothly than it has over all those years—thanks to
RSE.
Dr. Tillmann Kubis
Katherine Ngai Pesic & Silvaco Associate Professor of
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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.