Ten Simple Rules for Catalyzing Collaborations and Building Bridges between Research Software Engineers and Software Engineering Researchers

TL;DR

The paper addresses the entrenched cultural and operational gap between Research Software Engineers (RSEs) and Software Engineering Researchers (SERs) and argues that bridging this divide is essential for reproducible, scalable, and impactful computational science. It offers a concrete, rule-based framework—ten rules—that cover initiation, goal alignment, mutual benefits, open communication, advocacy, and institutional support to foster sustainable collaborations. Key contributions include actionable guidelines for recognizing differences, establishing shared objectives, ensuring equitable credit, and securing organizational buy-in, all anchored in experiences from a Dagstuhl workshop. The practical significance lies in providing a parsimonious, interoperable roadmap that can enhance software quality, accelerate interdisciplinary innovation, and improve the integration of software engineering practices into research workflows.

Abstract

In the evolving landscape of scientific and scholarly research, effective collaboration between Research Software Engineers (RSEs) and Software Engineering Researchers (SERs) is pivotal for advancing innovation and ensuring the integrity of computational methodologies. This paper presents ten strategic guidelines aimed at fostering productive partnerships between these two distinct yet complementary communities. The guidelines emphasize the importance of recognizing and respecting the cultural and operational differences between RSEs and SERs, proactively initiating and nurturing collaborations, and engaging within each other's professional environments. They advocate for identifying shared challenges, maintaining openness to emerging problems, ensuring mutual benefits, and serving as advocates for one another. Additionally, the guidelines highlight the necessity of vigilance in monitoring collaboration dynamics, securing institutional support, and defining clear, shared objectives. By adhering to these principles, RSEs and SERs can build synergistic relationships that enhance the quality and impact of research outcomes.