“From Earthquakes to Education: Lessons in Research Software Engineering Across Disciplines“

Abstract: Housed in the eScience Institute, the Scientific Software Engineering Center (SSEC) works with researchers across various fields to build robust, open-source software that advances inquiry and fosters community. These reusable tools, infused with industry best practices, accelerate research and sustain discovery beyond SSEC’s involvement in the projects.

Join us as we explore two projects that showcase the versatility of research software engineering in tackling complex challenges. In Offshore Geodesy, we will cover the development of a modular Python library designed to process sonar data and analyze subsea tectonic deformations. In Coaching Companion, we will discuss redesigning and optimizing database structures for the Coach and Educator Community Interface (CECI), a platform that supports professional development for early childhood educators. Through these examples, we’ll illustrate how technical solutions in software engineering empower innovation and sustainability across disciplines, from tectonics to teacher training.

Bio:

Don Setiawan is a Senior Research Software Engineer for the UW Scientific Software Engineering Center (SSEC) at eScience Institute. He has expertise in Python programming, web development, geospatial data analytics, and cloud-based data engineering that he is very excited to share in his role. Don has been an Affiliate with UW eScience since 2017 as a Technical Specialist with the Hackweek program. He has strong skills in interacting with diverse, multi-institutional teams of scientists and software engineers, in a variety of contexts, leading to concrete software development and implementation. Prior to being a part of SSEC, Don was working with the UW School of Oceanography in the Ocean Observatory Initiative (OOI) project as part of the Regional Cabled Array team. He was a technical lead, providing software and research support. He has also worked with the UW Applied Physics Laboratory in designing, developing, and maintaining scientific data analysis systems across multiple institutes and agencies. Don is a UW School of Oceanography alumnus. He focused on geospatial data analysis and management through the development of wave sensor buoys to study the spatial variability of oceanic waves.

Cordero Core is an accomplished Sr. Software Engineer with over 13 years of experience in the software development industry. Throughout his career, Cordero has established himself as an expert in software and machine learning applications. He has successfully delivered innovative software solutions for diverse industries, including healthcare, e-commerce, aerospace, and security. Cordero’s profound knowledge in developing software solutions has led to significant contributions to his field, including a patent (US11347046B2) for his groundbreaking work in computational microscopy and digital pathology. His work in this area has helped to revolutionize the imaging and analysis of pathology specimens, providing reliable diagnostic information to healthcare professionals. Cordero is also a member of the Entrepreneur and Practitioner Advisory Board for the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. In this role, he provides guidance to startups and entrepreneurs, demonstrating his dedication to mentoring and helping others achieve their business goals.

If you are interested, please join us afterwards for the Seattle Research Software Engineer (RSE) Meetup, a FREE event hosted and sponsored by the Scientific Software Engineering Center (SSEC) @ eScience Institute at the University of Washington. This networking event is a great opportunity for Research Software Engineers, developers, and scientists in the Seattle area to connect, network, and build a community of RSEs.

The 2024-2025 seminars will be held in person, and are free and open to the public.