Understanding the Skills and Pathways Behind Research Software Training

Research Software Engineers (RSEs) have a key role in supporting research in the HPC and Computational Science domains. Significant effort is directed into raising awareness of the RSE role and building career development pathways. One area requiring better understanding is training pathways. What courses should RSEs take to gain skills required at different expertise levels? How can we highlight the existence of these opportunities and ensure awareness and uptake? What materials already exist and what’s missing? How do we navigate this largely undefined landscape? In short: how does one train to become an RSE? The UK-based UNIVERSE-HPC (Understanding and Nurturing an Integrated Vision for Education in RSE and HPC) project is working to enable people from a diverse range of disciplines and backgrounds to have well-defined paths for obtaining the skills and experience required for a successful RSE career. UNIVERSE-HPC is not the only initiative hoping to address some of these questions. Other initiatives include The Carpentries, CodeRefinery, the HPC Certification Forum and UK ExCALIBUR programme. We hope this session will be an opportunity to include representatives from such groups in discussing the training needs, learning pathways and challenges in establishing the skills to develop an RSE career. We aim to trace current learning pathways and understand the community perspective of the most appropriate routes for gaining specialist RSE skills. The aim of this session is to bring together RSEs and people involved in HPC teaching and training to find common ground, enhance knowledge exchange, and improve engagement with industry.

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Contributors:

• Neil Chue Hong