diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..90038b170c41dbe387483cb64b452a7d6e4bab19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+[submodule "workflow/external_repo/astrocyte-atac-runner"]
+	path = workflow/external_repo/astrocyte-atac-runner
+	url = https://git.biohpc.swmed.edu/s219741/astrocyte-atac-runner.git
+	btanch = master
diff --git a/workflow/file.txt b/workflow/file.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e69de29bb2d1d6434b8b29ae775ad8c2e48c5391