In our upcoming BDI Scientific Computing seminar, we are excited to welcome Dr. Robert Esnouf, Head of CHG/BDI Research Computing and NDM Research Computing Strategy Officer at the University of Oxford. We’re thrilled to have Robert with us for what promises to be an insightful and engaging talk!
Date: Wednesday 26 February
Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Talk title: How can Biomedical Research Computing help your research now and in the future?
Location: Big Data Institute, Seminar Room 0
Abstract: Although based in Human Genetics and the Big Data Institute, Biomedical Research Computing (BMRC) provides appropriately managed storage and compute resources to enable biomedical research across the University. Current workloads include a wide variety of calculations relevant to research in “-omic” sciences, statistical genetics, population-scale studies of pre-clinical data, specific diseases and conditions, structural biology, electron microscopy and imaging techniques such as MRI and digital pathology. BMRC currently supports approximately 250 active research projects and 1,500 active users, managing ~36PB raw disk capacity, ~12,000 CPU cores and ~220 GPU cards. I will discuss how BMRC enables a wide variety of research and explain why our current infrastructure limits us. I will then outline our plans for radical renewal during 2025 that will enable a wider variety of sensitive data to be analysed on a more scalable and well managed infrastructure.
Biography: An Oxford local, Robert also studied at Oxford, reading Chemistry followed by a DPhil in Structural Biology. However, computing has always been part of Robert’s world since first trying to program the school computer in 1979. In 2009, after 17 years of research in Structural Biology, he accepted a job starting to organise the fragmented genetics computing at the old Wellcome Centre. The plan was to convert a store room, fill it with dedicated compute infrastructure and sell capacity to research groups, and this sowed the seeds of the current BMRC facility. Today, Robert leads a team of seven who support ~1,500 active researchers across thirty Oxford departments. As performance and governance requirements have become more stringent, Robert and his team have modified and improved BMRC and making access to cutting-edge computing affordable for a wide range of research groups.
————————————————————————————————————————All members of the University are welcome to join, please let reception at BDI know you’re here for the seminar and sign-in. We hope you can join us!
As a reminder, this seminar is intended to increase interaction between individuals working in Scientific Computing across Oxford. We encourage in-person attendance where possible.
Hybrid Option:
Please note that these meetings are closed meetings and only open to members of the University of Oxford to encourage sharing of new and unpublished data. Please respect our speakers and do not share the link with anyone outside of the university.
Microsoft Teams meeting –
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 310 944 362 868
Passcode: 7aj7Me7d
———————————————————————————————————
If you wish to know more or receive information related to trainings and events at BDI, please subscribe by emailing bdi-announce-subscribe@maillist.ox.ac.uk. You’ll then receive an email from SYMPA and once you reply you’ll be on the list!