Software Development in Research Overview

Software Development in Research

Software development is a crucial component of modern research, driving innovation across various academic fields. Unlike traditional commercial software development, which prioritizes speed and market demand, research software development emphasizes theoretically rigorous solutions that advance our understanding of problems and the field.

The Role of Research Software Engineers (RSEs)

RSEs are specialized professionals who contribute to research projects by designing, implementing, and maintaining software solutions. They bring expertise in version control, testing, deployment, software design, distribution, documentation, automation, and more to the research process.

RSEs often learn best practices by engaging with the broader software development community and devote time to developing their skills. They also spend time learning about the methods, terminology, and data of their research collaborators.

The Experience of Undergraduate Research Assistants

Undergraduate research assistants (URAs) gain valuable experience by working on research projects that involve software development. They learn by contributing to a research team, which may include tasks such as programming, supporting code, testing, debugging, and maintenance.

URAs may also contribute to the development of new software or enhance existing tools. This experience extends their education beyond coursework and helps them decide if they wish to pursue an academic career or other opportunities in the software industry.

Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Aspects

Software development in research is inherently collaborative and interdisciplinary. This means that RSEs may work closely with researchers from various academic fields to understand their needs and research methods. The RSE's role is to adapt software development best practices to the research environment and ensure that the software is robust, manageable, and sustainable.

Challenges and Best Practices

One challenge faced by RSEs and URAs in research software development is that they often do not use standard software testing practices, which can lead to potential software vulnerabilities. To overcome this challenge, RSEs and URAs should learn and adopt best practices in software development and continuously improve their skills.

To ensure that research software remains robust, manageable, and sustainable, RSEs and researchers should encourage conversations about software sustainability and develop a plan to ensure their software will continue to work, even after the person who wrote it leaves the institution.

The Future of Research Software Engineering

The role of RSEs and the importance of software development in research will only continue to grow. As our understanding of the world deepens, so will the need for software to support and enhance the research process.

In conclusion, software development in research is a vital component of modern academic research. The expertise of RSEs and the contributions of URAs are essential to the success of research projects that involve software development. By adopting best practices, continuously learning, and collaborating with researchers from various fields, RSEs and URAs can ensure that research software remains robust, manageable, and sustainable.