The Research Software Engineering (RSE) Cloud Computing Awards, supported by Microsoft, enable RSEs to explore, educate and extend cloud computing for researchers.

Microsoft has championed the Research Software Engineers initiative since its inception. We are strong supporters and participants in the RSE community, and advocate the importance of RSEs as a key pillar of the research ecosystem.  The Azure for Research initiative has involved thousands of researchers worldwide, working on hundreds of projects, to see how cloud computing can empower researchers to achieve more. The goal of the RSE Cloud Computing Awards program is to create a community bridging researchers, university stakeholders, regional teams, and national services, to better understand how Microsoft Azure can enable better, faster, and more reproducible research.

How to apply

Microsoft is proud to work with the RSE Network to support successful applicants with the following benefits:

• £2000 GBP to support education, outreach, and implementation of research solutions using the Microsoft Cloud;
• 12 months of Microsoft Azure credits at $250 USD per month, up to $3,000 for one year;
• Opportunity to provide direct feedback to Microsoft;
• Promotion of RSE cloud computing activity with Microsoft Azure to a national and global audience, providing visibility of the applicant’s work and impact.
• Use of the title RSE Cloud Computing Fellow.

Successful applicants should demonstrate that they will perform some, or all, of the following:

• Run training, workshops, and/or events on how Microsoft Cloud technology can help researchers;
• Develop and deploy Microsoft Azure cloud computing prototypes and solutions for researchers;
• Publish solutions and code as open source, where appropriate;
• Publish their experiences on using Microsoft Azure, online and through academic channels;
• Provide feedback on their experiences to Microsoft, including through Microsoftorganised events and workshops for this specific purpose.

Applying is easy: just complete the application form.

Who is eligible?

We are looking for people who are:

• Passionate about exploring how cloud computing can be used in research;
• Passionate about sharing their experiences with cloud computing;
• Advocates for best practice in their research domain, institution, and/or community.

Applicants may have one or more of the following roles:

• A research software engineer who supports the work of researchers;
• A researcher who uses software;
• A developer who writes tools for researchers;
• In a leadership role in projects or organisations that make heavy use of software, compute, and data services.

For more information, review the terms and conditions of the award program.

Timeline

7 September 2017 (at 12.30): Applications open

20 October 2017 (at 23.59): registration closes

31 October 2017: public announcement of successful applicants

1 November 2017: Fellowship starts

31 October 2018: Fellowship ends

More about the awards

We welcome applicants from a variety of career stages who demonstrate a passion for their area, the ability to communicate ideas effectively, and a real interest in the role of cloud computing in research. Fellows are empowered to talk about Microsoft Azure in their research domain to a wider audience, network with others who share a passion for cloud computing in research, and learn key skills that benefit them and their collaborators.​

If you have questions about the awards, please get in touch.

Researchers using Microsoft Azure

Researchers are using Azure across many domains, letting them spend more time on their research, providing all the computing they need, exactly when they need it. Whether it’s a computer with more memory, a cluster with thousands of cores, a big data platform, an internet of things solution, or open-source machine learning at scale, you can achieve more using the cloud.

The Azure 4 Research Blog explains what, why, and how cloud computing can accelerate your research. You can also stay up to date through the Microsoft Azure blog. Examples from around the world in genomics, engineering, environmental science, physics, urban analytics, and healthcare include:

• Creating intelligent water systems to unlock the potential of Smart Cities
• Research scientist uses Microsoft Cloud technology for high-energy physics computing on ATLAS
• From cancer to crop genomics — using Research as a Service at the intersection of computers and biology
• Democratizing AI to improve citizen health
• A new understanding of the world through grassroots Data Science education at UC Berkeley
• Cloud computing changes the way we practice public speaking
• Preventing flood disasters with Cortana Intelligence Suite
• Intelligent cloud computing lifts villages out of water poverty
• Untangling airports using open source tools on Microsoft Azure
• Saving shellfish by predicting ocean chemistry
• Using RaaS to predict hospital readmission rates
• Cloud computing helps researchers predict traffic jams

Azure for Research community

Follow @azure4research on Twitter and join the Azure for Research LinkedIn group.