Unlock new opportunities with an Open Research Fellowship
10 Sep 2026
“Research must be accessible to others. There's no point to research that can't be used,” says Professor Ellen Poliakoff, whose Open Research Fellowship strengthened her work and gave opportunities to PhD students - colleagues can apply now.
The Office for Open Research has opened applications for the 2026–27 Open Research Fellowship Programme.
The programme gives colleagues dedicated time, funding and support to develop their Open Research expertise, enhance their career development and contribute to the University’s wider Open Research Programme.
But perhaps the most compelling reason to get involved in open research is this, from Professor Ellen Poliakoff: “Any research must be accessible to others. There's no point to research that can't be used.”
Ellen’s Open Research Fellowship focused on sharing Open Research with public contributors – people with lived experience of a health condition who contribute to research by advising on, shaping or co-producing research.
She and her team have been working with public contributors with Parkinson’s and autism for more than 10 years.
“Involvement and co-production are an important Open Research practice, particularly in ensuring the research is relevant to those affected,” she explains in conversation with Open Research Librarian John Hynes.
Benefits included financial support which meant “two brilliant recent PhD students from our lab – Dr Hayley Shepherd and Dr Ying Bai – could work with me on the set up and analysis of the survey.”
Ellen also discovered how people with a range of lived experience were passionate about the benefits of co-production; many comments were insightful; some of their concerns were very similar to those of researchers; and public contributors began to take their knowledge and experience forward in their other roles.
She shared the team’s findings at the 2025 University of Manchester Open Research conference and has published a Journal of Neuropsychology article, so others can make use of her findings. And she continued putting extra time and effort in with her public contributors, “practicing what I preach.”
How to apply
Up to six Fellows will receive 0.2 FTE salary buyout for ten months, from January to October 2027, to develop activity that addresses an Open Research skills, practice or community need. Fellows may also access a development fund, subject to approval and programme guidance.
Applications are welcomed from colleagues across the University, including academic, professional and technical services staff and early career researchers, working in posts up to and including Grade 7. Applicants must hold a University of Manchester employment contract that continues until at least 31 October 2027. Head of School, Service or equivalent approval is required before submission.
Key dates:
- Applications open: Monday, 7 September 2026.
- Applications close: Friday, 23 October 2026.
- Register for the Information Session (Wednesday, 7 October 2026 at 2pm).
Applicants should propose an activity that responds to an Open Research skills, practice or community need and leads to high-quality, relevant, accessible and reusable outputs, such as training resources, guidance, toolkits, online materials or live activity.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview, and all applicants will be informed of the outcome in December 2026.
For full details, including eligibility, selection criteria and the Expression of Interest Form, visit:
Questions can be sent to:
Discover more
To read Ellen’s full conversation with John Hynes and find out more about Open Research Fellowships, visit: