Call for Open Research Champions 2022

Would you like to join a vibrant community of like-minded people committed to making University research more open and reproducible?

The Open Research Champions programme launched in 2021 with the appointment of 19 Champions across 9 Schools. We are now seeking to expand our community and engage with more Schools. We are looking for researchers, members of staff connected with research, and research students (second year onwards) in any discipline who are willing to spend a few hours a month helping to build a culture of Open Research at the University.

As an Open Research Champion you will volunteer a small amount of your time to promote Open Research within your School and facilitate the adoption of open and reproducible research practices.

In return we offer opportunities to gain new knowledge and skills; to raise your public profile and extend your networks, both within and outside the University; to inform University strategy and service development; to get involved in projects; and to obtain funding for Open Research activities. You will receive training and support from the Library’s Research Engagement team.

Auvikki de Boon (PhD student, Agriculture, Policy and Development) says: 'Being part of the Open Research Champions programme allowed me to connect with very inspiring people across the University and to learn from their experience. This programme showed me that every step, regardless how big or small, toward a more open research culture counts. Being able to contribute to this cultural change both through making my own research more open and by supporting others has been a really valuable experience.'

Visit the Champions website to find out more. There may already be Champions in your School, but there is no limit to the number of Champions a School can have, and we encourage Champions to work together. You can contact any of our current Champions for an informal chat about the programme.

Appointments will be made for a 12-month term from April/May 2022, and may be renewed by a further 12 months on request.

This call is open for applications until 12:00 on Friday 11 March 2022.

There will be an information session on Thursday 17th February at 13:00-14:00. You can book your place here.

Visit this page for call details and information about how to apply.

For informal enquiries, contact Robert Darby, Research Data Manager (0118 378 6161).