Centre for eResearch (CeR)

CeR supports and enables researchers across the University community through a range of services and capabilities delivered in partnership with researchers, digital research skills workshops, and by leading University strategic projects.

Research data

• Research Drive provides University-managed research data network storage.
• Dropbox for Researchers provides University-managed research data cloud storage to support collaboration.
• Globus enables fast and reliable file transfers to and from Research Drives and NeSI.
• Institutional Figshare enables self-service data publishing on a University-hosted platform.
• Research data support and training
• Research data management consultation

Research compute

CeR provides options for accessing computational resources to enable AI-powered research, speed up analysis, facilitate innovative methods, support long-running analysis tasks, or free up your desktop or laptop for other activities.

• Managed virtual machines enable access to managed computational resources with Windows and Linux OS options.
• Nectar self-service virtual machines provide access to self-service virtual machines, including GPUs.
• Secure Research Environment (SRE) provides secure, on-campus virtual storage and compute infrastructure for sensitive research data.
• Nectar virtual desktop provides short-term access to virtual machines with a desktop interface.
  

CeR also supports access to the REANNZ High Performance Computing (HPC) platform.

Researcher consultancy

• Researcher consultancy: Working alongside researchers to deliver customised solutions to funded projects using a cost-recovery model (see our case studies).
• Visualisation and immersive technologies: Includes bookable spaces and equipment, and support.

Researcher development workshops

Research AI

• Responsible AI in research for supervisors
• Introduction to machine learning
• Introduction to deep learning
• Introduction to AI-assisted workflows for qualitative analyses
• Embedding Large Language Models (LLMs) into qualitative research workflows workshop

Research Data Management

• Managing research data
• Research data management for supervisors
• Managing sensitive research data for supervisors
• Writing a data management plan

Research programming languages

• Data analysis and visualisation in R
• Programming with Python
• Introduction to the command line (Unix Shell)

Broad range of topics

• ResBaz 2026, a free online week-long series of digital research skills workshops.

Services are generally free to use for research staff and research students, but they are not infinite. Large requests or the development of bespoke solutions may require additional funding.

Our team uses their broad range of skills and disciplinary knowledge to provide consultations to better connect researchers to our services and those from other service providers. If you would like to know more or are unsure which service to use,  email us at researchdata@auckland.ac.nz.

Service standard

• Respond within five working days to requests.

Acceptable use

By using Centre for eResearch (CeR) services, you agree to:

• Only use these services for the purpose of undertaking research, commonly in association with a specific research project or programme. Projects that have a commercial component may have to be hosted on a separately licensed service.
• Undertake security maintenance on specific services where appropriate (e.g. patching on Nectar Cloud Virtual Machines)
• Work with CeR to review service settings (e.g. virtual machine allocation or storage option) each year, or as required by a particular service, to ensure efficient and sustainable use
• Participate in an annual user survey and provide details of research outputs supported by your use of CeR services
• Comply with the University’s IT Acceptable Use Policy and IT Security Policy
  

Application

The CeR acceptable use applies to:

• All members of the University community whether at the University or elsewhere
• Services that CeR provides, directly or indirectly through internal partners (e.g. Connect) and external partners (e.g. NeSI)

Eligibility

CeR services are available to doctoral students and University staff for the purposes of undertaking research, commonly a specific research project.

Suspension or withdrawal of services

Service users should expect email correspondence from CeR regarding specific requirements of acceptable use (e.g. service review or need for security maintenance). Failure to abide by these terms and specific requirements may result in a suspension of service followed by a withdrawal of service.

The Centre for eResearch (CeR) is a research platform providing eResearch and digital capabilities to all researchers across the University. We provide and facilitate a range of services to enable data-intensive research across all disciplines. See our latest Annual Report.

Our people

We are more than 20 highly skilled technical staff members, bringing together a wide range of experience and knowledge. Our teams collaborate with colleagues across the University, including Digital Services and the Research and Innovation Office, to ensure seamless support for our researchers within the eResearch ecosystem.

Our Management team

• Professor Mark Gahegan, Director
• Marcus Gustafsson, Operations Manager
• Sean Matheny, Platforms and Services Team Lead
• Yvette Wharton, Solutions Team Lead
• Laura Armstrong, Engagement Team Lead

Our governance

As a University of Auckland research platform, the Centre for eResearch is governed by the University Research Platforms Policy, and ultimately the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research (DVC-R) via the University’s eResearch Governance Group (eRGG).

We inform and are guided by the eResearch Strategy and strategic operational plans, such as the Research AI Plan.

Research data
Research Data Support Services
Email: researchdata@auckland.ac.nz

Laura Armstrong
eResearch Engagement Lead
Email: l.armstrong@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: +64 9 923 1597

Marcus Gustafsson
eResearch Operations Manager, Centre for eResearch
Email: m.gustafsson@auckland.ac.nz