Patricia has played a pivotal role in the growth and development of Research Computing at the University of Leeds. She joined the University in 2019 as an Urban Analytics Research Fellow before moving into the role of Research Software Engineer (RSE) in 2022, and subsequently becoming RSE Manager in 2023. During this time, she has helped expand the team, strengthen research software engineering capabilities and establish Research Computing as a key part of the University’s digital research ecosystem.
Research Computing provides expertise, services and infrastructure that support researchers across a wide range of disciplines, from Artificial Intelligence and Data Science to Bioinformatics, Computational Fluid Dynamics and Digital Humanities. Under Patricia’s leadership, the team has more than doubled in size, expanded its consulting activities and increased engagement with researchers across the University, helping more projects access specialist computing skills and support from early-stage grant development through to project delivery.
The appointment comes at a time when research is becoming increasingly data-intensive and computationally complex, creating growing demand for specialist digital research expertise and support.
Strengthening research software engineering at Leeds
Patricia has also championed the growth of research software engineering at Leeds, including expanding opportunities for early-career RSEs through initiatives such as the N8 Research Partnership Summer Internship Programme. She has been a strong advocate for the role that research software engineering can play in enabling high-quality, sustainable and reproducible research, helping research teams navigate technical challenges and make the most effective use of digital technologies throughout the research lifecycle.
Connecting more researchers with expertise and support
As Head of Research Computing, Patricia will lead the continued development of services that help researchers access the right expertise at the right time. Her priorities include improving how people discover, understand and engage with Research Computing services by increasing community and outreach activity, particularly within under-represented disciplines such as the arts and humanities, fostering earlier engagement in the project lifecycle, and helping researchers derive maximum value from the expertise, support and resources available across the University’s digital research ecosystem.
Reflecting the increasingly collaborative nature of modern research, Patricia is committed to strengthening the connections between researchers, technical specialists and support services, helping research teams access the expertise they need and coordinate support more effectively. Research software engineers often bring a unique combination of technical expertise and insight into the research process, helping to connect people, technologies and services to support successful research outcomes.
The appointment reflects both Patricia’s leadership and the growing strategic importance of Research Computing as researchers increasingly rely on advanced computing, software engineering and data-driven methods to address complex research challenges.
It is a huge honour to lead Research Computing at such an exciting time for digital research at Leeds. I see this appointment as much more than an individual achievement. I’m here because of the value our team demonstrates every day, and I hope this new role gives us even more opportunities to grow, collaborate and make a difference across the University. There are huge opportunities ahead, and I would love to work with researchers and colleagues across the University to help shape the future of digital research together. – Patricia Ternes
Explore our case studies
Patricia and the Research Computing team are already supporting innovative research across the University. Read our Case Studies to learn more about the impact we’re having on research outcomes.
You can also learn more about the role of Research Computing in Episode 4 of our podcast series, ARCSide Chat, in which Patricia speaks to Professor Simon Popple about how Research Software Engineers (RSEs) can support researchers across every discipline.
Discuss your next project
If you’re planning your next research project, we’d love to hear from you. Early engagement with our consulting service can help you make informed technical decisions, access specialist expertise and build the foundations for successful, sustainable research.
Get in touch by submitting a Research Computing query (login required.)
