Cloud Computing for Research Competency Centre

Do you want to understand the possibilities offered by cloud-based infrastructure?

We are a free service available to everyone at the University. We offer tailored advice, technical support, tools, and end-to end support to simplify cloud computing for your research. Whether you are handling massive datasets or need scalable computing power, we are here to help you explore and manage cloud-based solutions.

We can help you with

• Scaling Research: Access computing resources for complex tasks on demand.

• Data Management: Securely store, manage, and back up large datasets.

• Cost-Efficiency: Optimise research budgets with tailored cloud solutions.

• Simplifying Cloud: Tools that automate cloud tasks, simplifying resource management, and deployment.

• End-to-End Support: Collaborate with us on tools and projects from start to finish.

• User-Friendly Tools: Free, easy-to-use tools that help non-technical researchers understand and adopt cloud technology.

• Free Training: In AWS, Microsoft, and more.

 

We work closely with Advanced Research Computing (ARC), Biomedical Research Computing (BMRC), and Oxford Research Software Engineering Group (OxRSE) to ensure that our services meet the specific needs of various research areas.

News & upcoming events

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Come Meet Us

Sheldonian Theatre. Wednesday 12 February 2025, 14:00 - 17:00 

Come and meet the team at the Love Research Data event where we will be exhibiting and giving a presentation about our latest projects and how we can help you!

Register: Love Research Data - Find Your Perfect Research Data Management Match | Research Data Oxford

Training and Resources Package

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.

Where can the cloud take your research?

The Cloud Computing for Research Competency Centre has supported Dr. Taylor Hanayik, to successfully scale up neuroimaging analysis software using cloud technology. By leveraging cloud services, the team developed FSL Clinical, a platform extending the FSL software for MRI analysis, making it accessible to clinicians globally and allowing the first prototype to be used as a clinical research tool at the Oxford Brain Health Clinic, marking a significant step in clinical research. Read the full article 'Where can the cloud take your research?'

How research colleagues are developing their digital competencies

Did you know that in addition to advice and support, Oxford’s new Competency Centres also run specialist in-person training sessions?  To hear more about how these training sessions are benefiting colleagues, we caught up with attendees to a recent Amazon Web Services (AWS) workshop run through the Cloud Computing for Research Competency Centre. Read about what they have to say in the full article 'How research colleagues are developing their digital competencies'

New tool launched to help researchers choose cloud providers

Moving to the cloud has several benefits for researchers, however it’s a complex task and easy to get overwhelmed with information when choosing the right provider to host data. The team at the Cloud Computing for Research Competency Centre noticed a need for a tool to help researchers easily identify and compare their options.  

Researchers interested in storing and managing their data in the cloud can now access the Select Your Cloud Instance tool online, which has been designed and built by the team at the competency centre. It allows you to specify requirements for storage, computing power, and provides up-to-date details on options and costs for a variety of cloud providers including different options from Amazon AWA, Microsoft Azure and Google GCP.  Find out more about the new tool. 

Contact us 

ResearchCloud.ai-cc@it.ox.ac.uk 

 

Expression of Interest form 

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

Complete the form>  

 

Training workshops 

Book onto upcoming AWS training. 

Amazon Web Services - Beginners workshop

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