LCRDM Buddy Programme – Kick-off lunch session

Connect with a peer, exchange knowledge, and expand your network across research institutes in the Netherlands! The LCRDM Buddy Programme connects you with a colleague from another institute to share experiences, collaborate on ideas, and learn from each other's local practices.

Want to learn more about the program or get started right away? Join our online lunch kick-off!

• Date: September 8th
• Time: 12:00 – 13:00 (Online)
• Registration: Send an email to info@lcrdm.nl to receive the meeting link.

Would you like to join?

Are you ready to be paired with a buddy for the coming year? Help us make the best match by filling out our short inventory form:

Read Stories & Experiences

Curious about what it’s like to participate? Read the experiences of previous buddy pairs:

• Read the story of Linus & Olga
• Read the story of Carlos & Linda

Program Background & Guidelines

• Duration: 1 year (September – June)
• Time commitment: Flexible, based on mutual agreement between you and your buddy.

What can you do with your buddy?

You and your buddy are free to shape your collaboration as you like. Here are some popular suggestions:

• Create a community deliverable: Work together on something valuable for the broader community, such as a white paper or a piece of software.
• Workplace visits: Visit each other’s institution with a clear purpose—for example, to discuss Research Software Management Policies, guidelines, or 2-year roadmaps.
• Meet at events: Plan your visits around existing community events or institutional meetups (e.g., Coding/Programming Cafés at TiU, UU, or VU).
  • Great national events to meet up at:
    • Open Science Festival (OSF)
    • National Research Software Day (NRSD)
    • Netherlands Reproducibility Network (NLRN) Symposium
    • SURF Research Day
• Exchange insights & network: Share relevant connections, exchange information about organizational structures, or discuss how to define responsibilities when setting up new positions (expectation management, raising awareness, etc.).
• Personal development: Schedule regular online chats (e.g., monthly) to discuss personal and professional growth goals.

Community Activities for All Buddies

• Quarterly Online Meetings: Join collective online sessions with all program participants to discuss specific topics (such as software management policies, licensing, or raising awareness with management) and compare how different institutes handle these challenges.
• Stay Connected with NL-RSE: Want to stay up to date on NL-RSE meetups or organize events with other Research Software Engineers? You can subscribe to the official (outdated looking, but secure!) mailing list: NL-RSE Mailing List.

Questions?

Do you have any questions, suggestions, or comments about the Buddy Programme? We’d love to hear from you! Send us an email at info@lcrdm.nl.