Computer models could help reduce surgery cancellations
“It’s been amazing to be able to use NeSI to do that because it means we can change different parameters in our simulation model and through that we can do wider scenario analysis.”
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Bridging gaps and building collaborations within NZ research communities
NeSI's new Research Communities Advisor is aiming to connect researchers with digital resources and services that can help advance their projects.
Navigating the ins and outs of New Zealand’s computational research system can be tricky, particularly if a researcher is new to using digital tools to support their work.
That’s where Nooriyah Lohani, NeSI’s new Research Communities Advisor, can help. Since joining the NeSI team in June 2018, she has immersed herself in the community, participating in research events, training sessions, and networking activities in order to connect researchers with digital resources and services that can help advance their projects.
With a background in bioinformatics and past roles as a bioinformatician at Pacific Edge in Dunedin and the Bioinformatics Institute at the University of Auckland, she has first-hand experience in both the commercial and academic research spaces.
“I’m very aware and appreciative of the growing need for high performance computing and other digital tools in today’s shifting research landscape,” she says. “I’m looking forward to connecting with more researchers, particularly those in bioinformatics as that’s my specialty, to bridge gaps and build collaborations so that more members of our research communities have the computational tools and skills needed to advance their projects.”
Alongside her engagement work with researchers, Nooriyah has also been collaborating with research software engineer (RSE) community leaders in New Zealand and Australia. They’ve launched a website to connect and build awareness of the NZ & AU RSE communities, and they led NZ & AU's participation in a recent international RSE survey. They hosted a workshop at eResearch Australasia and will be organising other events to allow RSEs to meet, exchange knowledge, and collaborate on methods to create greater recognition and career opportunities.
Locally, Nooriyah helped coordinate NeSI’s 2018 Science Coding Conference in Rotorua in August, and is assisting with building the program for eResearch NZ 2019, NeSI’s joint conference with REANNZ to bring together researchers across disciplines and communities who are exploring or innovating the ways digital tools are used to advance research outcomes in NZ and internationally.
If you have questions about how computational tools or how NeSI services could support your research, get in touch with Nooriyah by email nooriyah.lohani@nesi.org.nz or visit our Services page on the NeSI website.
