IT support engineer
The institute of Neuroinformatics has a network of around 200 computers, composed mostly of Linux machines, but also of Windows and Macintosh.
My main task is to provide primary support for the entire institute informatics infrastructure. This includes ordering and installing new machines, educating people on their use, updating software, deciding future technologies, repairing hardware, and interacting with institute members to solve the daily computer-related problems associated with their research.
Particular interests include:
- open source software:
- offers the flexibility for the individuals actually using the software to modify and improve the software which in turn benefits the community as a whole.
- Linux desktop:
- an example of one of the most advanced open-source projects available. I have used it for the past ten years and am excited by the progress made. I look forward to the continual integration of Linux into the research environment.
- computer clusters:
- an important element in research aiming to solve large scale problems. Maintaining a bleeding edge cluster allows researchers to explore the latests computational technics and promote new technological development.
- web/database programming:
- allows the structuring of information and access to it through an attractive and consistent user interface using a client/server approach, which gives platform independence and centralized data storage.
- interacting with people in general.