Cloud Computing for Research Competency Centre

Providing free expertise, support, training and tools to help researchers harness the power of cloud computing for their projects.

Are you curious about the potential of cloud-based capabilities? Do you need significant computing power or the ability to handle large datasets for your research?  Whether you need advice on the best cloud providers, are considering moving research to the cloud or are looking for support on scaling your research, the Centre’s team of research software engineers can help.  

A part of Oxford’s Digital Transformation, the Centre aims to help maximise the power of cloud computing for research. Cloud computing can help save time and money, make research more accessible, and increase efficiencies. If you need support with cloud computing, we can help.  

Having the support of the Competency Centre made this project timeline happen faster.

We offer 

  • Consultancy sessions: Book a session with us for advice on if the cloud can work for you and the best providers, tools and methods to make it happen. Complete the enquiry form to arrange a session, and our team will get in touch.
  • End to end support: Our team can work with you as you move to the cloud and support you every step of the way. We can help build and implement solutions including cost optimisation, hardware requirements, software implementation, data safety, security and governance. 
  • Tools: To help you move to the cloud in the best way, we develop and maintain a range of tools, including a cloud provider comparison tool. 
  • Training: A range of in person and self-serve training covering platforms including Microsoft Azure, AWS and GCP. 
  • Tailored training and events: Personalised in-person sessions for teams or at events. Contact us to book a session for your team. 

I like the atmosphere of the lab very much. We are encouraged to make beyond-the-manual attempts with the free account and we can raise questions. Although I am not completely new to AWS, I did have some revision and exploration in this introductory session.

How we can work together

Our team of technical experts and research software engineers can help you determine if cloud-based solutions are right for your research.  

We work with a range of colleagues, from researchers who are unsure where to begin with cloud computing to those upscaling and looking to support large volumes of data. We can support you if you are looking to integrate AI into your research data or keen to remain compliant and follow best practice. 

As well as providing help and support, we can signpost you to other resources. We work closely with:

FAQs

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We've developed a training and resources package focusing on artificial intelligence/machine learning approaches in research, and how cloud-based solutions can help to support these methods.

Visit the Cloud Computing for Research AI and ML Competency Centre SharePoint Site for more details.

Please contact us by emailing researchcloud.ai-cc@it.ox.ac.uk to arrange a tailored talk or training. 

Our custom built tool serves as a resource for individuals and organisations looking to understand and compare different cloud computing options, while also providing insights into the cost of each resource. This can be useful for researchers who need to estimate expenses for grant proposals and budget planning.

Cost reduction in cloud computing for research and software development requires a strategic approach to optimise resources while maintaining performance and scalability. This includes right-sizing resources, leveraging reserved and spot instances, adopting serverless computing, optimising storage and networking, and using containerisation for efficiency. Writing efficient code that minimises computational overhead, reduces redundant processing, and optimises database queries is essential for lowering cloud costs. Continuous cost monitoring and multi-cloud strategies further help achieve long-term savings without compromising performance.

We aim to provide basic code samples for all cloud providers in our GitHub organisation.

Cloud Computing Comparison Tool

Compare cloud providers and find the best option for you.

Use the tool >  

Expression of Interest form 

Express your interest in understanding and leveraging cloud technologies to enhance your research work.

Complete the form >  

Training workshops 

Find out more about a range of in-person and self-paced training on using cloud based tools 

Training for researchers  

Contact us

ResearchCloud.ai-cc@it.ox.ac.uk 

 

Meet the team

Brian Marsden, Head of Competency Centre

photo of brian marsden

Brian leads the NDM Biomedical Data Platform based in the Centre for Human Genetics, the Research Informatics team in the Centre for Medicines Discovery and is Associate Head of the University’s Medical Sciences Division for Digital and Information. Brian and his teams work with researchers to provide multimodal data management, research computing and early drug discovery informatics solutions. He is also the University’s academic lead on research computing.

Paul Demanze, Senior Research Software Engineer

pauldemanzeheadshot

Paul holds a Computer Science Master's from the University of Strasbourg. After industry engineering roles and work with an Oxford spinout, he now serves as Senior Research Software Engineer specialising in cloud computing.

Ansar Rafique, Senior Research Software Engineer

Ansar Rafique

Before joining Oxford, Ansar completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science at KU Leuven, Belgium, followed by a postdoctoral researcher role. His research interests span a vast range of topics, including big data, cloud computing, distributed systems, NoSQL databases, data security, and building self-adaptive data management systems. In his current role, Ansar develops and manages cloud-based research infrastructure, provides consultancy on cloud adoption, and builds automated solutions for deploying and managing research workloads in the cloud. He also conducts training sessions to help researchers effectively utilise cloud resources.

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