e-Research

The mission of e-Research is to help enable and facilitate computational- and data-intensive research across KCL Faculties.

We provide the infrastructure and platforms required by a wide range of research areas. Furthermore, we provide the specialist support to PhD and post-docs to develop their skills to use these systems effectively in their research projects. Help and advice is also available each step of the way. Additionally, the logistical strain of creating these platforms individually is taken away. e-Research has a team that will acquire what you need and will follow its journey from quote to installation; going further with support and advice for the entirety of the project.

This bridge between the researchers and their technological need is separated into different aspects of this service. The e-Research space is always changing to meet the needs of KCL's researchers.

Look forward to the new Trusted Research Environment (TRE) platform that is being piloted presently and is on target for release at the end of the year.

CREATE

e-Research's Computational Research, Engineering And Technology Environment (CREATE) is the result of the need that culminated through faculties undertaking progressively more technologically demanding research. With CREATE, researchers have a space that has experienced subject matter experts on-hand to aid them with adapting sophisticated technology and applying it to produce world leading research.

The CREATE infrastructure provides the storage, Central Processing Units (CPUs), Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and the physical networking building blocks. These are used to implement flexible solutions to support research at KCL. This includes the High Performance Computing (HPC) cluster which is hosted within the CREATE environment.

CREATE is made up of different specialist componants. See below for more information.

Research Data Storage

The e-Research Research Data Storage (RDS) platform has been implemented to enable KCL researchers to safely secure their bulk and voluminous research data. RDS is designed to host petabytes of research data and manage vast scientific data from a wide range of different disciplines.

RDS stores and presents users' data in a standard manner using a network file system which can be mounted on users' own devices.

RDS is designed to prevent research groups from having to purchase and manage their own storage (such as NAS drives) - and is designed to be interfaced with scientific instrumentation, so high data volumes generated on the devices can be quickly copied or moved onto RDS where they can be stored safely.

Research Software Engineering

The Research Software Engineering (RSE) function within e-Research supports the development of research software at KCL and its partner institutions. We achieve this through direct collaboration with researchers, embedding experienced Research Software Engineers within new and existing research project teams; helping to up-skill researchers through our computational skills training; and providing short-term consultancy to those looking for advice on specific questions relating to their research software.

Trusted Research Environment

The Trusted Research Environment (TRE) is a new project for e-Research. The creation of this platform is due to the need for a controlled space that more sensitive data (such as human data) can be stored and interacted with as securely as possible.

This platform is currently undergoing its pilot and is on track to becoming available later this year.