Introducing Open Research Champions

The University has appointed 19 University Open Research Champions (listed below), following a call published this Spring. The Champions range from research students to Associate Professors, and are based in nine Schools across the University. Profiles and contact details can be found on the Champions website.

Open Research Champions volunteer a small amount of their time over a period of 12 months to help promote Open Research, provide information and support to peers and colleagues, and facilitate the adoption of open and reproducible research practices. They work together within their Schools and as a University community to spread Open Research awareness, knowledge and skills, and to support the use of open practices in research.

The Champions programme was launched under the University’s Open Research Action Plan, and is supported by the Library’s Research Engagement team.

Phil Newton, Research Dean for Environment, who leads implementation of the Action Plan, commented: ‘Our year one target was to recruit six Champions. I am delighted to appoint over three times as many, and of such high calibre. The Champions impressed us by the diversity of their knowledge and interests, and their determination to make a positive impact on our research culture. We are looking forward to the months ahead, when they start putting their ideas into action.’

Find out more at the Open Research Champions website. If you have any enquiries, please contact Robert Darby, Research Data Manager.

Open Research Champions 2021 (view profiles)

• Agriculture, Policy and Development: Auvikki de Boon, PGR; Marcello De Maria, Postdoctoral Research Assistant; Sophie Read, PGR
• Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science: Peter Bray, Research Fellow; Hong Yang, Associate Professor         
• Biological Sciences: Zoë Dennehy, PGR; Joe Dunster, Postdoctoral Research Associate
• Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy: Cristiana Bercea, Postdoctoral Research Associate; Al Edwards, Associate Professor        
• Law: Marzia Briel, PGR; Tahlia-Rose Virdee, PGR
• Literature and Languages: Alanna Skuse, Lecturer;
• Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences: Martin Lester, Lecturer; Gabriel Martins Palma Perez, PGR
• Politics, Economic and International Relations: Joseph O’Mahoney, Lecturer
• Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences: Daniel Brady, Research Technician; David Field, Associate Professor; Kirsty Hodgson, PGR; Brendan Williams, PGR