Open research for early career researchers

Wednesday 6 December 2023 10:00-11:00 BST

Open research applies to all disciplines and encompasses a variety of strategies and practices for transparently sharing research publicly and free of charge. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Open Access
  • Open Data
  • Open Code
  • Open Practice
  • Open Science
  • Open Innovation
  • Pre-registrations
  • Replication Studies

Early career researchers (ECRs) are the future decision makers or influencers of institutional processes that standardise open research practices. ECRs can be divided into three distinct stages: doctoral (PhD student); junior postdoctorate; senior postdoctorate or research fellow (transition to independent researcher). UKRI defines ECRs as someone who is generally (exceptions apply) within:

  • Eight years of their PhD or equivalent professional training
  • Six years of their first academic appointment

The level of knowledge and attitude towards open research predict to which extent open research practices are implemented. In this webinar, we will explore how researchers and institutions view open research, what motivates them to practice open research (including the steps that they take) and what barriers or challenges they face when considering or implementing open research.

SPEAKERS

How openness facilitates collaboration Dr Jemeen Sreedharan, Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow, Honorary Consultant Neurologist. You can find his slides here. Click here to view the video.

Navigating Open Research at the University of Exeter Sofia Fernandes, Open Research Manager, Library, University of Exeter. You can find her slides here. Click here to view the video.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Dr Jemeen Sreedharan, Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow, Honorary Consultant Neurologist

Jemeen Sreedharan is a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London and honorary consultant neurologist. His laboratory has developed human cellular and mouse model systems to understand mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Sreedharan studied medicine and neuroscience at King’s College London. After general medical training he completed a PhD in the genetics of ALS, also at King’s. After general neurology training he obtained a Clinician Scientist Fellowship award from the UK Medical Research Council. He worked between UMass Medical School, USA, and the Babraham Institute, UK. He moved back to King’s in 2017 and has expanded his work into human stem cell derived models. In 2019 he received the Alzheimer’s Research UK David Hague Early Career Investigator Award. In 2020, he was awarded a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship.

Sofia Fernandes, Open Research Manager, Library, University of Exeter

With over fifteen years of experience in higher education institutions, Sofia serves as the library functional expert for Open Research and is at the helm of the Open Research Team. In this role, she spearheads the University’s Open Research strategy, overseeing vital components such as managing institutional and funders’ Open Access funds, the repository and research data services. Her dedication focuses on compliance with funder and Research England requirements while advocating the broader advantages of Open Research. Her expertise and interests lie in Open Research, particularly in the domain of Open Access publications and data, scholarly communication, responsible metrics, research culture and research assessment.

Other involvements and interests are being part of Exeter’s Responsible Metrics Champions group and a UK Reproducibility Network co-network lead, representing the grassroots network of researchers at Exeter.

Sofia holds a degree and a Master’s degree in Information Science and various coaching qualifications. In addition, she is currently undertaking an MBA focused on Strategic Management and Leadership.