Research Computing: The Enabling Role of Information Technology

Key Findings

• Information technology’s primary research computing role is as an enabler of research.
• Provision of specialized staff—particularly programmers, analysts, and data-intensive research staff with subject matter expertise—is just as important as the provision of hardware and software resources for research computing.
• There is general dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of research computing practices and strategies.
• The structure and organization of research computing support relates to the quality of research computing practices and services.

ECAR Recommends

• IT departments should leverage the research computing services and infrastructure they provide to partner with researchers on grants.
• IT should explore providing research computing services to other institutions for a fee. Doing so may help fund the maintenance or development of such services. It may also help foster research collaborations and partnerships with other institutions.
• Institutions of medium research intensity should consider spending more of their research computing dollars on additional staffing. Research computing staffing at medium-research intensity institutions is no greater than at low-research intensity institutions. Research computing personnel (as opposed to other research computing resources) are considered especially beneficial when it comes to faculty recruitment and faculty research performance.

• IT should be proactive in uncovering research computing needs and communicating which research computing services are available. One-on-one communication with researchers is the best method of enabling partnerships and addressing needs.
• Institutions that want to advance their research should develop an RC strategy that includes an investment-based funding approach as well as integrated services and infrastructure.