Academic Research Computing High End Resource (ARCHER2) User Advisory Group vacancies

• Closing date: 17 September 2024
• Number of positions: Seven
• Length of term: Two years with possibility of extension
• Time commitment: Up to three days a year
• Remuneration: Travel and subsistence will be paid along with an attendance fee per meeting
• Remuneration: Applicable for both in-person and virtual meetings
• Outcomes communicated: End of September 2024

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) welcomes applicants to join the ARCHER2 User Advisory Group, which represents the current and prospective user base of ARCHER2, the UK national supercomputing service.

The group provides recommendations and feedback to UKRI with the aim of improving the user experience of the service.

We are seeking applications from individuals with experience in the use of ARCHER2 and other High Performance Computing (HPC) services.

Who we’re looking for

We welcome applications from those who are:

• in full-time or part-time work across all career stages
• on sabbatical or a career break
• based in academia (including research technical professionals and research software engineers)

We particularly encourage applications from:

• women
• people who identify as an ethnic minority
• people with a disability
• other groups who are currently under-represented

We welcome applications from people based in all regions and nations of the UK.

Person specification

The specific requirements we are looking for are:

• significant experience of using ARCHER2 to conduct computational research in the area of the vacancy
• an appreciation of the UK’s wider HPC environment and international HPC activities
• experience of engaging with the ARCHER2 user community and helping communication between stakeholders
• willingness to dedicate sufficient time to the role and backing or support from your organisation

Vacancies

To ensure a balance of representation across the ARCHER2 User Advisory Group, we seek to fill seven available vacancies who will represent the diverse current and prospective ARCHER2 user base.

The full list of available vacancies can be found in the further information section.

What you’ll be doing

Members of the ARCHER2 User Advisory Group will be paid a daily fee and reimbursed for appropriate travel and subsistence for attendance at meetings. We may host meetings physically, virtually or run a mixed attendance meeting (physical and virtual attendance).

The group meets at least three time a year, typically in February, June and October. If more meetings are required, we will give adequate information well ahead of time.

Initial appointments will usually be for two years, with possible extensions at the discretion of UKRI. Appointments will start from mid-October 2024, with the next meeting to be held in the last two weeks of October.

Role of ARCHER2 User Advisory Group members

The specific functions of the group include providing feedback and recommendations to the ARCHER2 Management Board with the aim of improving the overall user experience of the service, including (but not limited to) the following:

• effectiveness of the ARCHER2 service in meeting the needs of the users
• specific services delivered by the Hardware Center of Excellence, Embedded Computer Science and Engineering programme and ARCHER2 HPC facility’s service
• provision of the ARCHER2 service in the evolving UKRI digital research infrastructure environment

The specific functions of the group also includes:

• providing feedback to the partner councils (and UKRI more widely if appropriate) regarding the access mechanisms to the ARCHER2 service
• providing feedback on proposed changes to the ARCHER2 service from the partner councils, the management board or the ARCHER2 providers
• providing feedback and recommendations to the management board and the partner councils on encouraging appropriate new user communities to use the ARCHER2 service
• providing feedback to the partner councils regarding user requirements for the current and future HPC services
• advising on monitoring ARCHER2’s scientific impact and help develop the scientific case for future national HPC investments
• providing a member of the management board, expected to be the chair of the UAG, but the vice-chair may act as deputy in their absence

Further information on the role of the group and current membership can be found in the terms of reference in the further information section.

How to apply

Submission of applications for the vacancies opens on 5 July 2024 and closes on 17 September 2024 at 4:00pm UK time. Ensure that your application has been submitted before this time as the application form will automatically close (even if an application is being worked on) and late applications will not be accepted.

Applications should be made through the Citizen Space form. Your application will be final upon seeing the end screen: “You have completed this survey”.

You can apply to a maximum of one vacancy.

We invite applications from individuals who feel they can meet the person specification set out in the Who we’re looking for section. You must apply individually. Nominations from colleagues or organisations will not be possible. Universities and other key stakeholder groups should continue to encourage and support suitable colleagues to apply.

We assess your suitability for the vacancies solely based on the information provided in the application form. No other information will be used so you should take care to address all criteria.

All personal information provided as part of your application will specifically be used for the purpose of administering this process. This will be subject to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We will also use aggregated anonymised data for the purposes of monitoring our advisory and decision-making bodies.

Refer to UKRI privacy notice or contact the UKRI Information Rights Team at dataprotection@ukri.org for further information on:

• how your information will be used
• how we maintain the security of your information
• your rights to access information we hold on you

Ask about the vacancies or the recruitment process

Email: researchinfrastructure@epsrc.ukri.org

We aim to respond within two working days.

How we’ll assess your application

Selection process

Step one

Applications will be assessed internally during late September 2024 against the criteria outlined under the person specification.

A shortlist of candidates will be made, determined by how well the candidate meets the essential criteria in the person specification. Assessment is based on the evidence provided in the application.

Step two

During early October 2024, an internal prioritisation panel including all partner councils will rank the shortlisted applications using the assessment criteria in the person specification.

Vacancies will be filled from the shortlists with consideration to the following:

• provision of an appropriate balance of expertise across the ARCHER2 User Advisory Group
• diversity of organisational affiliation across the UK’s regions and nations

Step three

During late mid-October 2024, the highest ranked applicants from the prioritisation panel will be confirmed by the partner councils and communications will be sent to both successful and unsuccessful applicants. The next ARCHER2 User Advisory Group meeting is expected to be held during late October 2024, which will include the successful applicants.

Further information

Vacancies

A summary of ARCHER2 user communities where we seek ARCHER2 User Advisory Group membership include:

• electronic structure of materials
• classical materials modelling
• complex inorganic materials
• biomolecular simulation
• complex multiscale systems
• fusion technology and processes
• early career researcher and fellowship (any computational research area)

The Natural Environment Research Council representation is already fulfilled.

ARCHER2 User Advisory Group terms of reference

Read ARCHER2 User Advisory Group terms of reference.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Diverse representation within our advisory bodies is important to ensure we include a range of opinions, experiences and viewpoints in our advice streams.

Appointments to the advisory teams are made primarily on merit and we are keen to obtain greater diversity across the membership.

We particularly encourage applications from:

• women
• people who identify as an ethnic minority
• people with a disability
• other groups who are currently under-represented

We welcome applications from people based in all regions and nations of the UK.

As part of the application process, we will require candidates to submit their diversity data to help us assess and subsequently monitor the diversity of membership. This data will be collected, stored, and used in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines.

The use of an individual’s diversity data in the selection process will be clearly outlined. All diversity data that is used for monitoring purposes will be appropriately anonymised and aggregated according to Office for National Statistics rounding and suppression methodology.

Where participation in a UAG meeting or associated activity would involve additional care requirements, we have developed guidelines to highlight the support available to researchers with caring responsibilities.

We are committed to ensuring all meetings and events are as inclusive and accessible as possible. We will:

• select venues that are accessible and where possible accommodate any specific requirement in our planning and organisation of an initiative to support wider participation
• ensure attendees have an opportunity to raise any specific requirements or adjustments in advance
• handle personal sensitive information in compliance with UK GDPR

Last updated: 16 July 2024