LLNL’s Doerfert named Better Scientific Software fellow

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) computer scientist Johannes Doerfert was recently named one of the 2023 Better Scientific Software (BSSw) fellows, a government-funded program providing recognition and funding to leaders and advocates of high-quality scientific software.

A member of LLNL’s Center for Applied Scientific Computing, Doerfert was one of six fellows chosen to receive up to $25,000 in funding for one year of activities that promote better scientific software. Doerfert and his cohort were recognized at the 2023 Exascale Computing Project Annual Meeting on Jan. 18.

Doerfert said he will use the funding to create videos in which he describes best practices for interacting with compilers, part of an overall focus on improving developer productivity by demystifying the compiler “black box.”

“I’m super excited to be a BSSw fellow because I’ve advocated for better utilization of modern compilers for almost a decade now,” Doerfert said. “The visibility and support of the fellowship will help accelerate the impact way beyond what I could do alone.”

Supported by the Department of Energy and National Science Foundation, the BSSw fellowship program seeks to foster and promote practices, processes and tools to improve developer productivity and software sustainability of scientific codes. It also aims to increase visibility of those involved in scientific software production, enhance workforce development in DOE and NSF and grow a community of BSSw fellowship alums to serve as leaders, mentors and consultants, according to the BSSw website.

BSSw fellows are selected annually based on an application process that includes the proposal of a funded activity, which could include organizing a workshop, preparing a tutorial or creating content to engage the scientific software community.

For more, visit the BSSw website.