2023-2024 Open Research Fellows

In 2023 the Office for Open Research appointed our first cohort of Open Research Fellows. Each fellow is developing their own open research project and provides domain expertise inputting into the Open Research Programme.

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  Alex Henderson

  Senior Technical Specialist and Digital Systems Architect in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

  Project aim: To develop the FAIRSpectra initiative, strengthening the FAIR publication of data relating to chemical analysis, and enabling improved data sharing. FAIRSpectra aims to tackle issues with interoperability and reusability in two areas of activity: open file formats and metadata vocabulary.

  Research profile

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  Saskia Lawson-Tovey

  Data scientist in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health.

  Project aim: To investigate knowledge and understanding of Research Data Management (RDM) and FAIR principles, and perceived counter/incentives towards RDM/FAIR, among researchers using sensitive health data. Saskia plans to conduct qualitative research on researchers working with musculoskeletal data, in one of the largest research groups using sensitive health data at The University of Manchester.

  Research profile

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  Anne Cotton

  Research Associate in the Faculty of Science and Engineering

  Project aim: To produce a simple, accessible online resource that promotes and teaches open research practices for studies of microbiomes (the bacteria, fungi and other microbes which inhabit an environment). This will include information on using open-source software to process DNA sequences and best practices for uploading data and code to relevant online repositories to make them FAIR.

  Contact Anne

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  Luis Ospina-Forero

  Presidential Fellow in Data Science in the Faculty of Humanities

  Project aim: The University of Manchester's Research Data Repository Figshare can host code, datasets, and other different outputs openly and privately. Figshare integrates with GitHub, a platform which allows dynamic open hosting of code. Luis will be focusing on coordinating test cases for Figshare and GitHub integration, and evaluating the practical viability of a university wide GitHub plan. 

  Research profile

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  Hawys Williams (joint project with Samantha Franklin)

  Manager for the Centre for Engagement & Involvement in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health.

  Project aim: This joint project will build on the fellows' current involvement in Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE). They aim to improve the existing Charter Mark, a tool developed by the PPIE forum in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, which recognises good quality and best practices in PPIE among researchers. 

  Contact Hawys

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  Samantha Franklin (joint project with Hawys Williams)

  Social Responsibility Project Officer in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

  Project aim: This joint project will build on the fellows' current involvement in Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE). They aim to improve the existing Charter Mark, a tool developed by the PPIE forum in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, which recognises good quality and best practices in PPIE among researchers. 

  Contact Samantha

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  Kay Gallacher (contributor to PPIE project)

  Public Contributor and Co-Chair of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health's PPIE Forum.

  Project aim: This joint project will build on the fellows' current involvement in Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE). They aim to improve the existing Charter Mark, a tool developed by the PPIE forum in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, which recognises good quality and best practices in PPIE among researchers.

  Contact Kay

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  Joanne Pennock

  Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

  Project aim: Provision of plain English summaries is increasingly a priority for funders, especially in the areas of health research. As part of a broader strategy to increase Public and Patient involvement in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, this project aims to enable publication of lay summaries of grants awarded and PhD theses. 

  Research profile

Stay updated: We will be posting the latest updates on our fellows' case studies and project outcomes as work progresses. 

Get involved: If you have any questions or are interested in applying for the next cohort of fellows, please don't hesitate to reach out to the team at openresearch@manchester.ac.uk