2025 Steering Committee Candidate Information

election

Published: Nov 11, 2025

Candidates for the 2025 US-RSE Steering Committee election are listed below. Five of these candidates will be elected for a two-year term starting January 2026.

If you have questions for the candidates, or questions about the election, please use the #election channel on Slack. You must be registered as a member by Friday, November 14th to be eligible to vote in this election.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

More information about the candidates can be found below.


Abbey Roelofs

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I want to continue on the Steering Committee (SC) because I believe in the work US-RSE does in building community for research software engineers and promoting the role of RSE, and I’d like to stay involved in these efforts. I’ve found US-RSE to be an extremely supportive community of people who understand the challenges and rewards of working in research software. I think it’s critical that we maintain this welcoming nature while continuing to grow the community.

In addition, being a part of the SC for the past two years has shown me that much more goes into running US-RSE than I realized. I’ve made an effort to document the behind-the scenes tasks that our SC members and other volunteers do, as well as the systems and processes we rely on, in an attempt to give US-RSE as an organization the same level of reliability and resiliency we would hope for in our research code. While this has improved, there is more to be done, and I would like the opportunity to see it through.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
I’ve been the Deputy Treasurer of the SC for the past two years, learning about the finances of the organization and supporting the Treasurer in her work. I’ve also been a Sponsorship Chair for the past two US-RSE conferences, where I helped raise funds and coordinate finances for the conference. In addition, I’m actively involved in the US-RSE community, serving as the co-chair of the Community Calls Working Group, which aims to promote connections among RSEs by organizing monthly virtual calls on a variety of topics. I’m also a co-chair of the Code Review Working Group, which focuses on providing resources and events related to code review.

In my day-to-day work as the technical lead of an RSE group, I attempt to promote good software development practices within my group, and being a part of the US-RSE community is a great help in this. I’ve found the slack channel, community calls, and various working groups to be amazing resources to gain new insights and information, and I try to share back what I’ve learned and what’s worked for me and my group in these platforms in the hopes that they can help others as well.


Abrar Hossain

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I’m a first-gen international PhD student and ACCESS Student Champion committed to building an inclusive RSE community, especially at smaller institutions. I’ve navigated RSE pathways without built-in networks and want to make it easier for others. My work developing research software at NCAR and NCSA has shown how vital RSEs are to science, yet how underrecognized the role is. I’ve authored educational resources (EduHiPC, book chapter), mentored researchers, and promoted HPC education through ACCESS, aligning closely with US-RSE’s mission. I want to expand outreach to underrepresented groups, support emerging RSEs, and connect with student orgs like ACM and ACCESS. With leadership experience and a passion for community-building, I’m ready to help US-RSE grow and ensure diverse voices shape its future.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
I actively contribute to the RSE community through research, education, mentorship, and leadership, advancing both technical practice and professional recognition of research software engineering.

Research Software Development: I build production-quality, reusable HPC software, including TARDIS (a power-aware scheduler cutting costs by 18%), LASP (the first HPC autotuner for edge devices), and scalable job schedulers. At NCAR, I developed a data orchestrator improving transmission efficiency by 39% for community weather monitoring. At NCSA, I built network monitoring tools enhancing cyberinfrastructure reliability. My work supports sustainable, reusable software for the scientific community.

Education & Workforce Development: I co-authored “A Hands-On Approach to Teaching Parallel and Heterogeneous Computing” (EduHiPC’24) and am writing a book chapter on parallel computing education. I’ve led hands-on HPC workshops for high school students, mentored an undergrad to a WSC’24 publication, and routinely guide peers on HPC tools and workflows.

Community Leadership & Advocacy: As ACM UToledo President and ACCESS Student Champion, I organize career fairs and workshops, and promote cyberinfrastructure access. I review for PEARC’25 and volunteer at HiPC’24 and AGU’24. I advocate for RSE as a career path, helping students explore nontraditional academic routes and bridging computing with domain science.


Akshay Mittal

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I want to join the US-RSE Steering Committee to help strengthen the community of research software engineers by fostering collaboration, mentorship, and professional development. With over a decade of experience in software engineering, cloud-native systems, and AI/ML-driven research, I bring practical expertise in building high-performance, reproducible, and secure research software. I am passionate about bridging academia and industry, supporting early-career researchers, and promoting best practices in software sustainability. Serving on the committee will allow me to contribute strategically to advancing RSE visibility, community engagement, and impactful initiatives across the US.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
I contribute to the RSE community by actively mentoring researchers and early-career software engineers in building sustainable, reproducible, and high-performance research software. I have organized and led technical meetups, workshops, and hackathons, helping over 500 participants improve coding practices, workflow automation, and cloud-native deployments for research projects. As a frequent speaker at conferences and contributor to open-source projects, I promote knowledge sharing and collaboration between academia and industry. I also support RSE initiatives by reviewing research software for reproducibility, advising on best practices for software sustainability, and helping integrate AI/ML-driven approaches into research workflows. Through these activities, I aim to strengthen the community, empower researchers to adopt modern software practices, and foster an inclusive and vibrant RSE ecosystem in the US.


Alex Koufos

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I’m enthusiastic about Research Software Engineering because I truly believe RSEs are the essential piece for turning good research into great science.

When I finished my degree in late 2014, I already felt drawn to RSE work, albeit the term wasn’t common in the U.S. at the time. My job search led me to a position developing 3-D visual simulations for training, which sharpened my software-engineering skills but left my scientific curiosity wanting.

Moving to Stanford let me combine those skills with robotics research, where I fortunately encountered the US-RSE. Here, I found an amazing community where nearly all my interested aligned.

During the past two years as a Steering Committee member, I’ve helped connect the Stanford RSEs with the local community and have brought more scientists into the conversation through my existing collaborations. I’d like to continue building that bridge, promote the RSE role, and make it easier for others to pursue a career in this amazing field.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
I’ve been involved with the US-RSE for roughly five years now, and in that time I’ve tried to turn my enthusiasm for RSEng into actions.

Community leadership

  • Co-chair of several US-RSE groups: the Bay Area Regional Group, the Code Review Working Group, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Working Group, and the Institutional RSE Networking Affinity Group.
  • Local US-RSE representative for multiple RSE-focused initiatives on Stanford’s campus, linking the university with the broader association.

Programmatic contributions

  • Helped shape the DEI mission statement and organized DEI-oriented events that highlight inclusive practices in RSEng.
  • Contributed to website content and design to make information easy for newcomers.
  • Presented at RSE and scientific conferences, as well as events hosted by communities of practice, e.g. PyHC, promoting the RSE role and better practices through talks, papers, and collaborations.

Future focus

  • Partnering with Keith Beattie to host USRSE’26 in the SF Bay Area.
  • Collaborating with Stanford faculty and staff to formalize the RSE position as an official role on campus, creating a sustainable career path for future RSEs.

Through these activities, and more, I aim to keep the US-RSE visible, inclusive, and usefulÑespecially for researchers who haven’t yet heard the term RSE. By connecting people, improving resources, and advocating for institutional recognition, I hope to strengthen the community for years to come.


Débora Martins de Moura

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I want to be part of the US-RSE Steering Committee to help strengthen the bridge between research and large-scale engineering practice. Throughout my career, I’ve seen how reproducible, data-driven software transforms not only organizations but entire communities of knowledge. At Nubank, I lead engineering teams that build data and AI platforms serving more than 100 million users across Latin America. Before that, I worked Globo.com’s Big Data & AI division, connecting research and production through ML Ops, profiling, recommendation and experimentation systems. I believe the US-RSE has a unique opportunity to expand beyond academia, embracing engineers and leaders from industry who share the same passion for sustainable, research-driven software. As a Steering Committee member, I hope to contribute strategic thinking, technical depth, and a global perspective—while fostering inclusion, mentorship, and collaboration across sectors.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
My contribution to the broader RSE community comes from building and connecting ecosystems that unite research, engineering, and people (I am people oriented). At Nubank, I led organizations focused on essential platforms (high scalability), AI enablement, and data infrastructure that serve tens of millions of users. These initiatives advance many of the same principles valued by the RSE community: reproducibility, scalability, and research-informed software design. Previously, at Globo.com, I was manager at Big Data & AI division—creating ML Ops and recommendation, experimentation platforms that bridged academic research with real-world impact. This experience shaped my view that software engineering and scientific research are not separate disciplines but parts of the same creative continuum. Beyond technical work, I’m deeply committed to mentorship and inclusion. I’ve coached engineers transitioning from QA to full-stack, mentored women in tech, and supported open conversations on diversity and leadership in AI. Through these efforts, I aim to make the RSE community more global, connected, and inclusive—ensuring that research software thrives not just in labs, but in every environment where knowledge and technology meet.


Fabio Andrijauskas

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
The US-RSE is a vibrant community that highlights various software aspects. I am enthusiastic about contributing to the growth and advancement of this community.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
As a Senior Software Developer at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, I support and contribute to research initiatives within the Open Science Grid and Open Science Data Federation. My work focuses on advancing high-performance computing (HPC) solutions and fostering open science collaborations, leveraging my extensive experience in computational systems and software support.

With over a decade of expertise in high-performance computing and software engineering, I bring a strong foundation in distributed systems, data federation, and scientific computing. Passionate about enabling cutting-edge research, I aim to facilitate scientific discovery through scalable computational frameworks that empower researchers across diverse disciplines.


Ian Cosden

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I’ve been deeply involved with US-RSE since a few of us first got it off the ground, and have proudly served as Chair of the Steering Committee since its inception in 2019. Over the past few years, we’ve grown from an all-volunteer effort with virtually no funding to a nationally visible organization with paid staff, expanded programming (including a conference!), and a growing advocacy presence. US-RSE is at an inflection point in its maturity, and we must grow and adapt to sustain our offerings without losing our grassroots character and community-first approach. I want to continue building on our momentum by planning for long-term financial sustainability, ensuring the long-term viability of our conference series, supporting our incredible volunteers, and expanding our advocacy efforts. I remain as committed as ever to US-RSE’s mission and will work to ensure our community-first spirit thrives as we grow and solidify US-RSE’s role as a fixture in the national research ecosystem.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
I was one of the founding members of US-RSE and have had the privilege of serving as Chair of the Steering Committee (SC) since its formation in 2019. Early on, I led the drafting of the US-RSE mission statement and have since contributed to nearly every aspect of the organization. I’ve organized and participated in panels and workshops, led the 2022 US-RSE Community Building Workshop, and served as PI on the $800k Sloan Foundation grant that enabled US-RSE to hire staff, launch new initiatives, and kickstarted the conference series. I’ve also overseen our transition to a new fiscal sponsor, serving in a fiduciary role and as volunteer Project Director prior to hiring our Executive Director (ED). I continue to partner with our ED and SC to keep US-RSE financially sustainable and operational, and I also handle many of the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep the organization running. I advise our conference organizers, actively participate in multiple working and affinity groups, and regularly engage with community calls, events, and newsletters to keep members informed and connected. I’m currently the Senior Director of Research Software Engineering at Princeton University. Over the last ten years I’ve grown our central RSE team from one to 39 RSEs, and regularly use this platform as a way to advocate for the role and impact of RSEs in research. Whenever and wherever possible I’m eager to share lessons learned and promote the RSE role through talks, papers, and community events.


Jeff Carver

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
As a founding member of the US-RSE Steering Committee (SC), I have enjoyed the opportunity to contribute to and help lead the growth of US-RSE from a small group to a large community of over 3000 members, including working groups and the annual conference. As we enter a new chapter, strategic planning is critical to address US-RSE’s growing pains and to maintain its vibrancy. In addition to my role as Vice-Chair of the US-RSE SC, I hold other leadership roles that provide necessary expertise for the US-RSE SC, including serving as a steering committee member for international conferences and research organizations, Editor-in-Chief for Computing in Science & Engineering magazine, and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies in Computer Science at the University of Alabama. In addition, my own academic research and publications focus on RSE and RSEng. These experiences help me positively impact US-RSE by identifying and responding to internal blind spots and external opportunities.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
As a founding member of the US-RSE Steering Committee, I have served in multiple roles, including Secretary, International Council Representative, and currently Vice Chair. I co-chair the US-RSE Community and Travel Funds committee. I started and co-lead the US-RSE Education & Training Working group. I co-founded and co-lead the Code Review Working Group. I am one of the US representatives on the International RSE Survey committee. I actively participate in the US-RSE conferences by organizing workshops, presenting talks, serving as a panelist, and chairing the US-RSE Working Group BoF. Beyond these specific service roles, in my work as a Professor of Computer Science studying software engineering, I have conducted and published numerous studies on RSEs and RSEng. My research continues to focus on important questions related to RSEs and RSEng. My expertise in software engineering and its application to research software as well as my role as a faculty member at an R1 University help me represent the perspective of those who conduct research on RSE and RSEng, which is important to the discussions and decisions made by the US-RSE Steering Committee. Finally, as the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Computing in Science & Engineering, I started a new department focused specifically on RSEs. Through my service in these varied roles, I have been able to interact with many US-RSE members and learn about their views of the profession, which gives me a unique perspective on the community.


Keith Beattie

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
As a current member of the US-RSE Steering Committee, a manager of RSEs and someone who has worked as an RSE, in both industry and for the last 20+ years at a national lab, I would very much like to continue to have an active impact on how scientific software is perceived and further support the careers of RSEs by being elected to another term on the US-RSE Steering Committee.

After spending 5 years as a software and release engineer in industry then coming LBL as a Computer Systems Engineer (CSE), I was struck by the lack of rigor in how scientific software is developed and the difference in status between those on the Scientist career track vs those on CSE track. 20 years on, I now have deep experience and insights on how things can change so that scientific software, and those who develop it can become first-class citizens within the scientific community. I would like to continue to apply that experience in supporting RSEs by serving another term on the US-RSE Steering Committee.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
I currently serve on the US-RSE Steering Committee participating in discussions and decisions on the direction and management of the organization. Last year I served as one of the Steering Committee election co-chairs overseeing the election of last year’s co-hort of Steering Committee members, currently am one of the International Council Representatives participating in discussions and activities with RSE organizations across the world, and this year I am one of the General Co-Chairs for the upcoming USRSE’26 Conference in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Advocating for RSEs has been a passion of mine long before the RSE term existed. Having long challenged my co-workers on the way scientific software is developed and how those who build and maintain it are not seen as equal partners in the research mission, I am now at a point in my career where I can apply my experiences and take greater risks in supporting RSEs than I have previously been able to. To that end, I now lead a group of RSEs at LBL and a local, albeit informal LBL-RSE effort doing at the single lab-level what the US-RSE does for the RSEs across the country. This year I was able to get LBL to become a founding organizational member of the US-RSE at the premier level for 5 years. Continuing in that supportive spirit, I plan on bringing an experienced perspective to the organization on how we can best support RSE as currently described in our mission statement.


Kiran Kalyanaraman

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I want to serve on the US-RSE Steering Committee to strengthen the community of Research Software Engineers and elevate their role in advancing scientific innovation. With 15+ years in software engineering, cloud, and product management, I’ve led cross-disciplinary teams building data and AI platforms that support large-scale research. I’m passionate about mentorship, career development, and fostering inclusion within technical communities. I aim to help expand US-RSE’s outreach, strengthen partnerships with academia and industry, and develop programs that empower RSEs to grow as recognized leaders in research computing and open science.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
I contribute to the RSE community by promoting open, reproducible, and sustainable research software practices across disciplines. I collaborate with academic researchers to design cloud-based data platforms and machine-learning pipelines that make research results easier to share and validate. I frequently mentor early-career RSEs and students through academic programs and technical judging panels, focusing on software sustainability, documentation, and version-controlled workflows. I actively engage in professional societies such as IEEE and the Soft Computing Research Society, sharing talks and publications on AI-driven research software design. I also advocate for open-source adoption and FAIR data principles in collaborative projects. Through these efforts, I aim to strengthen the RSE community’s connection to academia, advance reproducibility standards, and highlight the indispensable role of RSEs in accelerating credible, transparent scientific discovery.


Milan Parikh

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I want to serve on the US-RSE Steering Committee to help strengthen the bridge between research, software engineering, and community leadership. My background as an Lean Enterprise Data Architect and senior IEEE member has taught me the value of structured collaboration and open standards in advancing research computing. The RSE movement reflects a vital shift toward recognizing software as a core part of research outcomes, not a secondary tool. I want to help shape policies and programs that support sustainable RSE careers, equitable community representation, and collaboration between academia, government, and industry. I bring experience leading technical communities, mentoring early-career engineers, and organizing professional networks that connect research and practice. My focus would be on outreach, professional recognition, and shared learning frameworks for RSEs across disciplines.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
I contribute to the broader RSE community through technical leadership, mentorship, and active engagement in professional societies. As an Enterprise Solution Architect specializing in data platforms, low-code systems, and AI integration, I advocate for the application of software engineering principles in research workflows. I mentor early-career professionals and student developers through IEEE and BCS programs, helping them adopt sustainable coding, data management, and automation practices aligned with reproducible research.

I frequently publish and present on topics connecting research computing with enterprise innovation, covering areas like Microsoft Fabric, Power Platform, and responsible AI. These engagements promote cross-disciplinary collaboration between academia and industry.

I also support open knowledge exchange by reviewing conference papers, organizing technical sessions, and serving on committees focused on software reliability and data governance. My ongoing work emphasizes the professional recognition of RSEs as equal partners in research, advocating for better visibility, structured career pathways, and mentorship programs that strengthen both technical and community foundations of the RSE movement.


Pengyin Shan

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I joined the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at UIUC as an RSE three years ago and was introduced to US-RSE after years of programming for different university departments. Once I joined, I realized much of my earlier work had actually been RSE work. My teammate and I just didn’t know it, nor did we have peers to learn from. Remembering that sense of isolation, I’m deeply motivated to help others discover the community I wish I’d known earlier. Many talented research software professionals are doing RSE work without realizing it: missing the support, visibility, and sense of belonging that US-RSE offers. Through my volunteer work in the community and US-RSE conferences, I’ve seen our potential to reach even broader groups: researchers, UI/UX designers, project managers, and research facilitators. I’d be honored to join the Steering Committee to help grow this inclusive network and empower more professionals and students to thrive together.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
I actively contribute to US-RSE through leadership, outreach, and cross-community collaboration. I served as Vice Chair of the Technical Program for USRSE’25 and Tutorial Track Chair for USRSE’24, leading efforts to organize submission tracks, recruit volunteers, prepare calls for participation, review proposals, and deliver impactful conference experiences. I volunteered as a panelist in the USRSE’25 student program to introduce my RSE experience to students, and initiated the internationalization and localization efforts via talks at USRSE’24 and USRSE’25 on advancing multilingual research software practices. Beyond conferences, I streamlined US-RSE’s social media publishing process through the GitHub workflow and am serving as a Co-Chair for the new RSE Track at PEARC26, working with Ian to expand RSE engagement within the broader Research Computing and Data community while maintaining the unique appeal of US-RSE. As a 2025 Trusted CI Fellow supported by the Sustainable Horizons Institute, I am collaborating with a former fellow to develop a tutorial for RSEs on building research software with cybersecurity in mind. For global outreach, I am connecting with the Canadian RSE community and exploring industry partnerships to expand support for RSEs. I will also present a tutorial and lightning talk at iPRES25 in New Zealand in November 2025 to connect with the global digital library community and advance US-RSE’s impact worldwide.


Primus Chimdia Kabuo

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I want to join the US-RSE Steering Committee to help shape how our community presents and positions itself to a broader audience. In a field centered on software and research, I see an opportunity to bring a user-forward, design-aware perspective that complements our technical strengths. I’m passionate about improving how we communicate our values — ensuring that US-RSE’s outreach, branding, and public narrative are clear, compelling, and accessible. Serving on the committee aligns with my long-term commitment to advancing the RSE profession, and it would allow me to contribute strategically to how we set direction, share knowledge, and cultivate an inclusive, forward-looking community.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
My contributions to the RSE community are grounded in building tools, platforms, and experiences that emphasize usability, accessibility, and impact. I actively promote design thinking and user experience as essential parts of sustainable research software development. By combining technical fluency with communication and visual design skills, I help bridge the gap between functionality and adoption — ensuring that software not only works but resonates with its users. I contribute to community growth by sharing knowledge on modern development practices, open-source collaboration, and emerging technologies. I also engage in mentoring and collaborative projects that encourage inclusivity and professional development among RSEs. If elected, I would extend this contribution through the US-RSE Steering Committee by supporting initiatives like the website, events, and working groups — helping present our collective work with greater polish, clarity, and consistency. My goal is to help US-RSE thrive both technically and publicly, strengthening our visibility and influence across research and industry.


Sai Kalyani Rachapalli

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I want to join the US-RSE Steering Committee to help advance the visibility, sustainability, and recognition of Research Software Engineers across academia and industry. With over a decade of experience in data engineering, analytics, and applied research, I’ve built scalable ETL and AI/ML systems that enable reproducibility, automation, and performance at scale—core to the RSE mission. My roles at EverBank, Wells Fargo, Volkswagen, and Availity have shown me how research-driven engineering transforms outcomes across domains. As a former Teaching Assistant at Eastern Michigan University and active mentor, I value fostering growth, inclusivity, and collaboration. On the committee, I aim to advocate for clear RSE career pathways, promote skill-building in computational research, and strengthen academia–industry partnerships to expand the impact and recognition of RSE work nationwide.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
My contributions to the broader RSE community focus on advancing data engineering excellence, reproducible research practices, and professional mentoring that bridge academia and industry. With over a decade of experience in data integration, automation, and large-scale analytics across finance, manufacturing, and healthcare, I build systems that reflect RSE values—sustainability, collaboration, and innovation.

At EverBank, Wells Fargo, and Volkswagen, I have led the design and optimization of ETL and AI/ML data pipelines that support research-driven decision-making and real-time analytics. These efforts have enhanced reproducibility, transparency, and accessibility of data workflows, aligning closely with US-RSE’s mission to promote best practices in research software.

Beyond my technical leadership, I actively mentor junior engineers and analysts on software engineering principles, version control, and data quality standards—skills essential for RSE growth. As a Teaching Assistant at Eastern Michigan University, I supported undergraduate research in statistical methods, helping students translate theory into computation.

As an active reviewer for IEEE and ACM, I contribute to the integrity of research in data science and software systems. Through these professional and scholarly efforts, I strive to strengthen the bridge between scientific discovery and engineering practice—the foundation of the RSE community.


Sridevi Narayana Wagle

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I want to join the US-RSE Steering Committee to help build a more inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable research software community. As a new member with 8 years of experience bridging research and software engineering, I bring expertise in AI/ML pipelines, visualization tools, and interdisciplinary projects, including work on the world’s first wireless ultrasound transducer. I have organized workshops, presented at international conferences, and mentored colleagues, emphasizing accessibility and reproducibility. I aim to contribute to US-RSE by fostering community engagement, and promoting best practices in research software, helping the organization grow and empower members across disciplines.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
As a new member of the US-RSE community, I bring extensive experience at the intersection of research and software engineering that can directly benefit the RSE community. Over 8 years, I’ve developed AI/ML pipelines, interactive visualization tools, and automated workflows for interdisciplinary projects, enabling scientists to work with complex data and models more effectively. At Siemens Healthineers, I contributed to the world’s first wireless ultrasound transducer, performing formal verification and automation that ensured reliability and safety - experience that demonstrates my ability to deliver robust, high-impact software in critical domains. I have published research on explainable ML, retrieval-augmented LLMs, and democratized machine learning, and presented at international conferences. I also have experience organizing workshops and events, giving me insight into building inclusive, engaging experiences.

I am passionate about mentoring and supporting colleagues and interns, helping them build confidence in computational methods and navigate software-driven research. I am eager to engage with US-RSE, contribute to working groups, and help expand the community’s reach, fostering sustainable practices, inclusivity, and equitable access to research software tools. My goal is to leverage my technical expertise, interdisciplinary experience, and event-organizing skills to strengthen the RSE ecosystem in the U.S.


Sridhar Rao Muthineni

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I want to serve on the US-RSE Steering Committee to help elevate the visibility and impact of Research Software Engineers across industries. With extensive experience leading healthcare technology initiatives like Health4Me and Optum, I understand the value of well-engineered research software in solving real-world problems. I’m passionate about mentoring, fostering inclusive collaboration, and advocating for professional growth within the RSE community. Joining the committee would allow me to contribute strategically, support emerging talent, and help shape initiatives that strengthen the RSE ecosystem nationwide.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
I actively contribute to the RSE community by mentoring junior engineers, sharing best practices in scalable software design, and promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration. My work leading major healthcare applications like Health4Me and Optum has demonstrated how RSEs can drive innovation in high-impact domains. I regularly engage in knowledge-sharing forums, advocate for the professional recognition of RSEs, and support inclusive hiring practices. I also champion the integration of modern engineering principles into research workflows, helping bridge the gap between academic research and industry-grade software. Through these efforts, I aim to strengthen the visibility, value, and sustainability of the RSE profession.


Sunil Netra

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Why do you want to be on the US-RSE Steering Committee?
I want to join the US-RSE Steering Committee to help strengthen the bridge between research and practical software engineering. Having worked extensively in scalable systems, automation, and AI integration, I’ve seen how strong engineering practices can accelerate scientific progress and collaboration. I’m passionate about fostering a community that empowers Research Software Engineers to share knowledge, adopt best practices, and influence policy and culture across organizations. By contributing my technical and leadership experience, I hope to help shape initiatives that enhance visibility, sustainability, and career growth for RSEs nationwide.

How do you contribute to the US-RSE Association or RSE community more broadly?
I contribute to the broader RSE community by promoting best practices in software engineering, automation, and AI to support research and innovation. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on building scalable, reliable, and data-driven systems that enable teams to move from experimentation to impactful implementation. I actively mentor engineers and researchers, encouraging collaboration, reproducibility, and the use of modern development practices that strengthen the quality and sustainability of research software.

I also advocate for open communication and shared learning—organizing technical discussions, supporting cross-domain knowledge exchange, and highlighting the importance of long-term software maintenance in research environments. My goal is to empower engineers and scientists to work together more effectively, producing robust tools that accelerate discovery and innovation.

By serving the US-RSE community, I aim to help grow a stronger, more connected network of professionals advancing research through software excellence.

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