Open Research Fellowship Programme
Applications for the third cohort of the Programme are currently being considered ahead of shortlisting, interviews and appointments
Funded via the University's Research Culture and Environment Framework, The Office for Open Research believes that knowledge and confidence in Open Research practices will prove essential in creating a more open, collaborative, and equitable research landscape. To this end, we have sought to appoint passionate individuals to join us as Open Research Fellows.
The Open Research Fellowship programme includes buyout of time to allow Fellows to focus completely on their projects, and fully dedicate a day of the working week to work on Open Research. This is intended to support Fellows to not only pursue their own Open Research interests, but also make a valuable contribution to the wider academic world. During recruitment, Fellowship opportunities are open to all Academic, Professional and Technical Services colleagues across the University.
Why do we offer Open Research Fellowships?
Ahead of the launch of the Office for Open Research we consulted the research community about priorities for the University’s Open Research Programme. In this consultation, the development of Open Research training was identified as a key priority. This need was reiterated in the results of a national survey by the UK Reproducibility Network, which identified gaps in provision for Open Research skills development. We have secured funding from the Research England Culture Fund to offer this Fellowship Programme, including buyout of time, to enable motivated researchers dedicated time and recognition for working to advance Open Research within their disciplines.
The Fellowship Programme is funded via the University's Research Culture and Environment Framework. Find out more about the University's commitment to enhancing research culture via the Research Culture and Environment Hub.
How does it work?
The Open Research Fellowship programme provides time to work on Open Research by buying out up to 0.2 FTE of Fellows' time for an agreed period of time, for example, seven months to a year. We require details of costings on anticipated project expenditure during the application process so we can determine if allocated funding can be used to achieve Fellows' Open Research goals.
By participating in our Fellowship programme, Fellows work on their own projects and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and best practices in Open Research. You can find out more about our previous Open Research Fellows and their projects via our knowledge base:
Expectations
Appointed Fellows are expected to:
- Contribute to the work of the Office for Open Research with domain expertise.
- Continuously engage with the Office for Open Research to update and report on project milestones.
- Participate in an Open Research community of practice, networking with other Fellows, and proactively sharing best practice with their peers, even after their Fellowship has ended.
Open Research Fellows for 2026
Applications for the third cohort of Fellows (2026) have now closed. Those shortlisted will be interviewed by a panel drawn from Open Research Strategy Group. All applicants will be informed of the result of their application in December 2025.
Ultimately, the Fellowship aims to raise awareness about Open Research and promote its adoption across all parts of The University of Manchester. This is another step towards our commitment to openness in research, and we look forward to nurturing the third cohort of Open Research leaders and champions at the University.