As the Spring 2021 semester rolls to a close, ITS is gearing up to support summer research. Whether you are a professor or student, we are here to support your work.

Documentation

Keeping a log, journal, or record of your work is important. There are a number of ways to document research, including standard tools such as a Google Doc or WordPress blog or more specialized services. Our Academic Technologists can get you set up with an effective method that works for your research. We’ve been surprised that there hasn’t been more of a push for electronic lab notebooks and would be interested to explore possible solutions with a faculty partner.

Data Management and Backup

Keep your research data safe by making sure your computer system is backed up. Visit our Research Data Storage and Backup page to learn more about the options. The easiest solution for faculty and lab computers is Code42. If you collaborate using Google Workspace (formerly known as G Suite), you you may be interested in an AODocs folder for your research group. Check out our post on Disappearing student work to avoid potential pitfalls with students’ shared files on Google Drive.

Research Computing Resources

If you are planning on doing some serious number crunching, visit our High Performance Computing page to learn about how to access supercomputing resources. Our ITS staff also has experience supporting specialized computational needs and has worked with researchers to provide access to computers in ITS campus labs (in person or remotely) as well as cloud-based systems via Swarthmore’s Amazon Web Services Educate program. Check out our recent blog post covering what’s going on with supercomputing this summer.

Software

In addition to the common Software and Services provided by ITS, we also have access to specialized research software including ArcGIS Pro, ATLAS.ti, the Autodesk Suite. We can also help make software available to remote students over a web browser using our AppStream service.

If you use the R statistical programming language, you may want to consider moving your lab to use Swarthmore’s RStudio Server, which provides project sharing capabilities including real-time collaborative editing of code.

If you will be writing code this summer, we’d recommend using software version control to keep your files safe and make for an easier workflow. ITS provides access to GitHub Enterprise at github.swarthmore.edu, which is an easy way to collaborate on software with other college community members. We can also recommend git and GitHub training or do an introduction to software version control for your group.

The MakerSpace and Media Center

For research involving design of physical objects or requiring custom apparatus, the MakerSpace will be open throughout the summer and provides 3D printing, laser and waterjet cutting, and access to wood and metal fabrication tools. The MakerSpace will be relocated to the basement level of Singer during summer renovations in Whittier Hall.

If you need to print out a research poster, use a high performance Mac or Windows computer, scan in documents, or get advice on video or audio editing, the Media Center will be available throughout the summer by appointment.

Get in touch!

We love hearing about your research projects, especially if there are technical challenges you are working to overcome. Let us know what we can do to help make your summer research successful. Get in touch with your Academic Technologist or email us at support@swarthmore.edu with your questions and ideas.

Image by manuel ramirez from Pixabay