Are you new to preprints and want to learn more about their use? Have you been using preprints for a while and now want to engage others? Then our Fellows program is for you!
The use of preprints in the life sciences has grown over recent years, and an important driver has been community support for preprints. At ASAPbio we recognize that outreach by community members is invaluable in driving awareness about preprints, and we want to empower existing and new community members in driving these conversations, particularly with colleagues in regions or disciplines where preprints are still not common.
To support the members of our community who want to deepen their engagement with preprints, we have hosted the ASAPbio Fellows program since 2020. We are now thrilled to open applications for the fifth cohort of the program.
The ASAPbio Fellows program provides participants with a comprehensive overview of the preprint and preprint review landscape. The program provides opportunities to explore trends, tools and the outlook for preprints in the life sciences while connecting with others interested in preprints and science communication. The program also allows Fellows to help shape and develop ASAPbio strategic initiatives, develop their own preprint based talk or to optionally take forward a project of their choice. This year there will be two tracks to the program which will run from April – August/November 2024. The program is now open for applications until 18 March 2024.
Culture & Community track
The primary activities of the Fellows program occur as part of the culture and community track. This culminates in Fellows delivering a local talk around preprints. This track runs April-August 2024.
Project work
An additional and optional track in the Fellows program where you work in collaboration with other Fellows to help develop an ASAPbio strategic initiative. This track runs June-November 2024.
Participants in the Fellows program will engage in a schedule of activities including:
- Orientation sessions that will provide an overview of the program as well as the preprint landscape
- Monthly sessions covering different preprint-related topics such as preprint review, publishing, open science, handling conversations about preprints, and more
- Fellows will create and deliver a preprint related talk as part of the main culture and community track
- The Fellows will optionally contribute to a preprint project related to ASAPbio initiatives below or can choose and develop their own project:
- Crowd preprint review: collaborative review of preprints leading to group-authored public reviews
- ASAPbio Local Hubs: foster local preprint communities through activities in/around Copenhagen (Denmark), São Paulo (Brazil), Ibadan (Nigeria), Norrkoping (Sweden) and Pretoria (South Africa)
- Awareness and recognition of preprints in India and Africa
- Develop outreach campaigns (e.g. via social media) to support adoption of preprints
- Produce a podcast episode focussed on preprints
Want to learn more? You can find additional information on the Fellows program Handbook. You can also read about the ASAPbio Fellows and their accomplishments in prior cohorts: 2020 Fellows, 2021 Fellows, interview with 2022 Fellow, 2023 Fellows. If you have any questions about the program, please do contact us at jonny.coates@asapbio.org.
