Agents

The Agents Network

The Agents network is a group of researchers from a wide range of fields who help keep the institute up to date on the latest developments in their field. The Agents travel to conferences and send us reports on the discoveries they make and the people they meet. These reports will help us understand the research domains in which we work, and learn about the software we should be working with.

Information about the Agents

Here's some further information about Agent resources on this website:

• If you are interested in our current Agents, take a look at the Agent biographies page.
• Further information about the Agents network can be found in the terms and conditions.
• Agents who want to travel should fill in a travel request.
• On returning from an event, Agents should fill out a reporting back form.
• And if you're interested in what our Agents discovered, take a look at the conference intelligence page.

Who can become an Agent?

Our Agents are UK-based, early-career researchers with a good knowledge of their research domain, experience of research collaborations and a desire to travel and meet new people. They work for Uk-based research organisations, and many specialise in research domains that have been highlighted by the RCUK as being strategically important to UK research: the ageing population, environment and climate change, the digital economy, energy and food security.

How to apply

The 2011 round of Agents applications is now closed. We will be recruiting again in July 2012.

The benefits

• Up to £3000 a year to attend the conferences and events that you want to attend
• Ensure that your research domain benefits from the best support for software development
• Add influential researchers to your professional network
• Free attendance at training events for new tools and technologies run by the SSI and partner organisations.
• If you develop software, an improved knowledge of effective techniques for developing sustainable software
• A great addition to your CV

How does it work?

Once you've signed up as an Agent, we will pay your travelling expenses to any conference or event where your attendance will lead to a better understanding of the software and computing needs of the domain in which you work.

Before attending the conference, you provide us with a short overview about the conference and why it will lead to a better understanding of the software and computing needs of your domain. If we think the conference looks interesting, you attend and send us with a short report about what you've learnt. In return for the report, we pay your conference registration fees, travelling expenses and subsistence. It's quite a deal!

More information

More information about the Agents network is available in the terms and conditions. If you would like to know more about the Software Sustainability Institute, then our website has plenty of information about us, our current projects and some of the things we do.

If you have any specific questions, you can contact us at agents [at] software [dot] ac [dot] uk.