research software engineering

Dirk Feuchter from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology will join us at the HiRSE Seminar Series to talk about “Before Distributing Research Software - Impulses from an RSE&TTO-Perspective”

Abstract: Research software is increasingly recognized as a core research output, yet it often remains difficult to discover, cite, and preserve. Metadata plays a key role and requires dedicated effort to provide high-quality information. This seminar offers a practical deep dive into the metadata initiatives around research software, including standards such as CodeMeta, persistent identifiers like SWHIDs, and the role of Software Heritage as the universal archive of source code. It will explore how Research Software Engineers and institutions can integrate these elements into their workflows to improve discoverability, reproducibility, and long-term preservation. The session will conclude with practical recommendations on how to structure and expose software metadata so that research software becomes visible, citable, and preserved as part of the scholarly record.

Institutions

• Helmholtz Platform for Research Software Engineering - Preparatory Study

Florian Mannseicher from the FutuRSI Project will join us at the HiRSE Seminar Series to talk about “FutuRSI:Conception of a German Research Software Institution.”

Abstract: This presentation introduces the progress of the FutuRSI project, a strategic initiative involving the conceptualisation of a prototypical research software engineering service organisation. The project aims to evaluate the optimal design of such an institution at the federal level. The presentation addresses the critical challenges and concrete needs currently facing the research software community, as well as potential solutions to overcome these challenges. It also elaborates on the next steps towards creating a robust, feasible, and financially viable concept for a German research software institution.

Institutions

• Helmholtz Platform for Research Software Engineering - Preparatory Study

Sebastian Müller from Universität Potsdam will join us at the HiRSE Seminar Series to talk about “When you don’t know what to test for: Metamorphic Testing for Research Software”

Abstract: As research software becomes increasingly complex and interdisciplinary, assuring its quality and keeping the software well maintained requires testing approaches that go beyond conventional correctness checking. Traditional unit testing techniques are often insuffiecient in research software contexts where expected outcomes may be uncertain, stochastic, or influenced by complex simulation contexts. Not being able to predict what the correct output of a program should be for a given input is known in the literature as the oracle problem.
This talk presents practical strategies for tackling the oracle problem within standard automated testing frameworks, such as pyunit. Rather than abandoning unit tests, the focus is on rethinking the assertions they rely on. One complementary approach will be discussed in depth: Metamorphic Testing. The technique will be illustrated with real-world, scientific software examples.
The seminar is aimed at RSEs and developers of research software with a basic knowledge of automated testing who want to strengthen their testing knowledge with practices suited for hard-to-test research software protoypes.

Institutions

• Helmholtz Platform for Research Software Engineering - Preparatory Study

This Dagstuhl Seminar seeks to ignite a focused dialogue on the strategic positioning and practical implementation of digital transformation in scientific research. Central to our discussion will be the role of Digital Centers or Hubs as flagship components of modern research infrastructure and the significance of Research Software Engineering (RSE) and Research Data Management (RDM) as essential enablers of their success.

The seminar's guiding question is: How can digital transformation be effectively embedded in the research landscape? Should it be steered centrally via comprehensive digital centers or emerge through decentralized, institution-driven initiatives? We will explore the strengths, limitations, and potential synergies of both models, with the goal of deriving actionable insights for sustainable digital infrastructure strategies.

Another focus is on the tension between disciplinary specificity and transdisciplinarity: Should digital competence centers closely align with specific research domains, or should they work across disciplines to foster collaboration and shared innovation? Understanding this balance is crucial for building effective, scalable digital ecosystems across institutions and research communities.

For more information please read here

Institutions

• Indiana University - Bloomington, US
• Universität Kiel, DE
• Universität Innsbruck, AT
• HCDS, Universität Hamburg, DE

The Hub of Computing and Data Science will hold an RSE day in the Science City Bahrenfeld. The event is tailored to scientists and software developers working in Research Software Engineering and people interested in the field. It aims to strengthen our community in Hamburg, share experiences, and showcase our work. As the requirements for sustainable research software increase, we see the potential to build a community of practice that meets regularly and tries to leverage synergies in the metropolitan area.

Research Software Engineers (RSEs) specialize in developing and maintaining software that supports scientific research. They combine software engineering expertise with a deep understanding of research methods and domain knowledge in specific scientific fields.

That means RSEs are crucial in bridging the gap between advanced computing and scientific inquiry, ensuring that software solutions are robust, efficient, and tailored to researchers' needs.

If you feel you belong to this community, you are invited to submit an abstract for a poster showing your work and complementary lightning talks.

This event will provide a platform for lively discussions with lightning talks and community engagement during the poster sessions. Two keynote presentations will round out the program by providing insights into successfully implemented RSE. Hopefully, it will generate new ideas and help find collaboration options.

The Hub of Computing and Data Science (HCDS) warmly invites researchers, RSEs, and developers to come together and:

• connect with peers across disciplines and institutions
• discover real-world RSE applications in science
• share ideas, tools, and experiences
• gain visibility for their work

Call for Posters

We invite you to showcase your work in our poster session — a great opportunity to present your projects, get feedback, and spark new collaborations.

All poster presenters can also give a 3-minute lightning talk to introduce their work to the audience.

We welcome contributions from all disciplines and experience levels.

What to expect

• Inspiring keynotes on successful RSE practices
• Interactive barcamp sessions – bring your own topics
• Poster session & lightning talks
• Plenty of time for discussion