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Platforms
Research Computing Platforms
We offer a range of advanced platforms for computationally intensive research which are free for UCL researchers to use on a fair share basis, enabling our users to perform all but the most demanding analyses and simulations.
All of our computing platforms use the same Linux-based software stack, which provides a consistent user interface and makes it easy for researchers to switch platforms according to their need.
Kathleen
Kathleen was launched at the end of 2020 as a replacement for Grace, and is designed to take care of large parallel computing tasks. It is designed specifically for this purpose with a high-speed Infiniband network linking together its compute nodes, allowing them to coordinate effort on a single task very effectively.
Myriad
Myriad was launched in 2018 as a solution for data-intensive workloads. It is designed specifically for this purpose with a high speed Infiniband network linking high performance storage with powerful compute nodes – ideal for working with large datasets.
Data Safe Haven
UCL's Data Safe Haven (DSH) should be used for storing or processing sensitive data, including identifiable personal data and data that needs to be treated as special category for legal or contractual reasons. Myriad and Kathleen aren't suitable for use with this type of data. If you think your research data may need to be in the DSH instead of Myriad or Kathleen, please contact infogov@ucl.ac.uk for advice. The process for gaining access to the DSH is described on the Data Safe Haven Assurance page.
RCNIC
The Research Computing and Networking Innovation Centre (RCNIC) aims to help with the adoption of new technologies across UCL’s research computing facilities. It runs projects to evaluate, prove and incubate new technologies, which may become future IT services for researchers.
Research Data Platforms
We offer a growing suite of research data platforms, including storage for current projects and a long-term repository, to support effective data management from planning to re-use.
The Research Data Storage Service (RDSS)
This service is available for UCL research staff and their collaborators. It provides controlled access to research data storage, potentially at a very large scale. It is a managed service based on dedicated, resilient hardware which is backed up to tape on a daily basis. Contextual data about the project is captured to facilitate future curation and data management. The RDSS is available for use both by externally funded projects and internal ‘unfunded’ research.
The UCL Research Data Repository (RDR)
The Repository enables the long-term preservation of selected data beyond the lifetime of an active research project. It also acts as a data publication platform, enabling the citation and future re-use of datasets created by UCL staff.
Electronic Research Notebook (ERN)
The UCL ERN service provides a means to edit and manage notes and data relating to your research. It is intended not only as an alternative to traditional paper lab notebooks, but as a wide-ranging solution for researchers who wish to gather their notes and related files in a single system where they can collaborate and selectively share their work with others in their team.
Medical Imaging Platforms
XNAT is an open source imaging informatics platform developed by the Neuroinformatics Research Group at Washington University. It helps UCL researchers store and share medical image data and associated files in compliance with GDPR and Information Governance requirements, allowing users to upload data either directly from hospital scanners and PACS systems, via ZIP files through the web interface or from a personal computer using a desktop client. UCL’s XNAT servers are a central resource available to researchers at UCL, collaborating partners such as UCLH and the wider medical imaging research community.
Research IT Applications
Research Publications Service (RPS) and UCL Discovery
RPS is a tool to help UCL researchers manage their publications in line with UCL's Publications Policy. Individual publication lists managed through RPS form part of the profiles on IRIS and are also available through the free and open institutional repository, UCL Discovery. RPS also facilitates Open Access publication by allowing researchers to upload the full text of their publications to UCL Discovery.
Institutional Research Information Service (IRIS)
IRIS is a one-stop shop for information on research activity at UCL. It provides free and open access to UCL researcher profiles. Every researcher at UCL has a profile on IRIS to which they can add information about themselves and their work.