Research Assessment and Incentivising Open Research Practices

Presenter: Dr David O’Connell

Director of Research Support & Policy, University College Cork, co-lead of Ireland’s CoARA National Chapter and co-lead of the Roadmap to Embedding Open Research Practices in Ireland (ABOARD) project funded under the NORF Open Research Fund 2023.

Abstract

On Wednesday, 1 November 2023,  Ireland’s National Open Research Forum and National Research Integrity Forum will jointly host a workshop on Research Assessment. The event will include invited speakers who will share perspectives on reforming research assessment from CoARA, national research systems and funders. Following this, there will be opportunities for sharing experiences through breakout groups and discussions, with the objective of supporting all in advancing this important development across the Irish research landscape in line with international developments. In his lightning talk, David will present the main findings of the workshop, highlighting current and planned future work on research assessment and how to move forward nationally in a coordinated way.

About

Dr David O’Connell is Director of Research Support & Policy at University College Cork with a remit to enable research activity, and enhance its quality and impact, through the delivery of an effective research support function. David is a member of a number of advisory groups and contributes to research and innovation policy nationally and internationally, including serving as co-lead of Ireland’s CoARA National Chapter (with Dr Sally Smith). Along with Sally, David also co-chaired NORF’s Incentives & Rewards Working Group and contributed to the development of policy briefs that underpinned the National Action Plan for Open Research. Both David and Sally are co-leads of the Roadmap to Embedding Open Research Practices in Ireland (ABOARD) project funded under the NORF Open Research Fund 2023.

Prior to moving UCC, David launched and become the first Chief Editor of Nature Microbiology, the world leading scientific publication in the disciplines of microbiology and infectious diseases. He was also a contributing Editor at the weekly magazine, Nature, and established and managed a major collaboration with the WHO focused on neglected infectious diseases in the developing world. Prior to his appointment at Nature, David served as Chief Editor of the Cell Press/Elsevier review journal, Trends in Microbiology and was subsequently appointed as a Managing Editor of the Trends family of journals.

David graduated with a PhD in Biochemistry from University College Dublin and the University of Calgary, which was followed by a period of postdoctoral research, as a Wellcome Trust Fellow, at Trinity College Dublin and Texas A&M University.