"This sounds very much like IT/Helpdesk support, of the kind a programmer or a lab manager typically wouldn't want (and might not be qualified) to deal with, either." - Not if they were hired with that qualification in mind.
"Is there something unique to your lab environment that you couldn't use some kind of shared/general IT helpdesk service, perhaps focused on scientific software users?" - It's more there are parts of HappiLab that I could see using (managing grant budgets, which was...an unpleasant part of my week last week), etc. but my pain points are slightly different from those of a wet lab, but still within the realm of "I'd prefer someone familiar with academia and research rather than a general purpose group."
> Not if they were hired with that qualification in mind.
That's a big "if". That's why I said "typically". I think you'd find it difficult, if not impossible, to hire someone like that, even though they exist.
This is a conceit I often see in job postings, of listing skills that belong to two (or more!) different specialties. It seems more common in cases where the goal seems to be to have two specialists for the price of one [1].
> "I'd prefer someone familiar with academia and research rather than a general purpose group."
I'm pretty sure "prefer" rather than "urgently need" isn't compelling enough to give a startup a enough of a competitive advantage. There's also not much (if any) synergy with any of the rest of HappiLab's core competencies to make sense as an addon for them.
IT services could be just another vendor HappiLab handles.
[1] Uncharitably, two full-time experts for one salary, but, charitably, merely two half-time experts in one person, which seems likely for startups and other cash-strapped groups.
"I'm pretty sure "prefer" rather than "urgently need" isn't compelling enough to give a startup a enough of a competitive advantage. There's also not much (if any) synergy with any of the rest of HappiLab's core competencies to make sense as an addon for them.
IT services could be just another vendor HappiLab handles."
Potentially. I think one of the things that will become more important - and will synergize - is the number of wet/dry labs. There are an awful lot of new computational servers being bought by non-tech savvy PIs.
I'd hope that's not just viewed as an opportunity exploit information assymetry by tech/IT services firms.
I do believe, however, that scientific computing needs are similar enough to general computing needs that this won't be widespread (or at least not for long). It would also mean that it would make sense for a lab services provider to offer generic IT except as a pass-through for convenience (subject to cost-saving disintermediation).
IOW, I doubt you're that special, but that's a good thing!
"Is there something unique to your lab environment that you couldn't use some kind of shared/general IT helpdesk service, perhaps focused on scientific software users?" - It's more there are parts of HappiLab that I could see using (managing grant budgets, which was...an unpleasant part of my week last week), etc. but my pain points are slightly different from those of a wet lab, but still within the realm of "I'd prefer someone familiar with academia and research rather than a general purpose group."