For the Public Good: Connecting, Retaining, and Recognizing Current and Future RSEs at National Organizations

Published

March 15, 2023

Author(s)

Miranda Mundt, Keith Beattie, Jonathan Bisila, Charles Ferenbaugh, William Godoy, Dan Gunter, Rinku Gupta, Jonathan Guyer, Mariam Kiran, Addi Malviya Thakur, Reed Milewicz, Benjamin Sims, Vanessa Sochat, Joshua Teves

Abstract

US national research laboratories and agencies play an integral role in advancing science and technology for the public good including health, security, clean and renewable energy, and economic prosperity. In recent years, members of the workforce have coalesced around the term research software engineer (RSE) as a professional designation that reflects who they are and the work they do. The authors of this article, as RSEs and allies from eight unique national organizations, came together to explore RSE needs from the perspective of national research and development institutions. In this exploration, we identified three key areas of improvement that would pave the way for future RSEs to pursue scientific avenues in the national interest: community establishment, hiring and retention, and recognition. To retain and cultivate this essential talent, US national institutions must evolve to support appropriate career pathways for RSEs, to recognize and reward RSE work, and engender an inclusive and welcoming RSE community.

Citation

Computing in Science & Engineering

Volume

24

Issue

6

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1109/MCSE.2023.3256759

Local Download

Keywords

research software engineering, software engineering, engineering profession, career paths, organizations, training, research software, scientific computing

Citation

Mundt, M. , Beattie, K. , Bisila, J. , Ferenbaugh, C. , Godoy, W. , Gunter, D. , Gupta, R. , Guyer, J. , Kiran, M. , Malviya Thakur, A. , Milewicz, R. , Sims, B. , Sochat, V. and Teves, J. (2023), For the Public Good: Connecting, Retaining, and Recognizing Current and Future RSEs at National Organizations, Computing in Science & Engineering, [online], https://doi.org/10.1109/MCSE.2023.3256759, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=935646 (Accessed February 21, 2026)