FORRT Community Stories & Testimonials

FORRT is an inclusive community in Open Research built on care, equity, and collaboration—shaping the future of inclusive open scholarship, one story at a time. FORRT’s mission is explicit about empowering early-career scholars, educators, and changemakers around the world. Our members have found mentorship, purpose, and belonging while contributing to a more inclusive and just vision of open scholarship. These stories remind us that behind every organization, infrastructure, educational material, or publication are people—people learning, growing, and reshaping the future of science, together. On this page, we share their journeys and first-hand reflections on growth, belonging, and transformation through FORRT.

Finding Belonging in Open Science

Joining FORRT has been one of the most transformative experiences of my academic journey so far. I was lucky enough to become part of this incredible, supportive community through my very first academic role—a project in collaboration with FORRT. Through working with FORRT, I saw what true collaboration looks like: a global network of researchers who are not only pushing the boundaries of open science but also lifting each other up along the way. The sense of community is unmatched—people are kind, generous with their time, and deeply dedicated to meaningful change.

One of the standout moments for me has been contributing to the FReD replication database, where I helped map and code effect sizes in replication studies. This experience gave me invaluable exposure to a wide range of research methods, designs, and statistical approaches. However, even more than the task itself, what stood out was the unimaginable support we received along the way. The guidance provided for tasks was clear, detailed, and thoughtful. Any queries were met with prompt, helpful, and genuinely encouraging responses. Group meetings were offered, and we were never made to feel like we were alone in the process. What truly sets FORRT apart is the care they put into everything they do. They’re not just focused on the outcome—they’re deeply invested in the process. They’re open, reflective, and constantly striving to improve how they work so that our experience as contributors is not only meaningful but also joyful. They care about the people behind the work, and that care shines through in every interaction. I’ve already recommended FORRT to many other early career researchers because of the countless opportunities it provides to get involved in impactful projects around the world. I’m thrilled to share that I recently accepted a PhD offer at King’s College London to research ADHD and menopause. This milestone wasn’t just a career step—it was a dream come true. And I can say with full confidence that my time with FORRT played a central role in making it possible. Through FORRT, I was able to build real, tangible skills—from statistical analyses to collaborative communication to open scholarship practices. But more than that, I developed a deep sense of self-belief and belonging in academia, which is often hard to come by as an early career researcher. FORRT gave me the space to explore new challenges, take intellectual risks, and grow not only as a researcher, but as a person.

Thank you FORRT, I am excited to see what the future holds!

—Roksana Sobolak—

My Journey into Replications, Reproducibility, and Community

I stumbled into FORRT somewhat by accident during my master’s studies, while working on a review paper about the replication crisis. At the time, I was looking for collaborators and, without knowing much about the community or its norms, I just dropped my Google Doc into the Slack channel—completely ignoring any guidelines or structure that were probably there for good reason! To my surprise, the response was overwhelming. I received hundreds of thoughtful comments and a flood of interest from people who wanted to collaborate. It was incredibly exciting, but also completely chaotic—and I quickly realized I was in over my head. Thankfully, several experienced FORRTers stepped in and helped me navigate the process. Instead of being frustrated by my obliviousness or the disruption I’d unintentionally caused, everyone was kind, patient, and encouraging. That openness and generosity left a lasting impression. What began as a spontaneous post turned into multiple fruitful collaborations, real friendships, and a deep connection to the FORRT community. Eventually, I even found myself in a leadership role within the Glossary project—something I never would have imagined when I first joined.

I’m incredibly grateful for the welcoming and collaborative spirit of FORRT, and I’m looking forward to many more exciting adventures with this wonderful community!

—Max Korbmacher—

On Supportive Mentorship and Personal and Professional Growth

I got to know FORRT through my supervisor who encouraged me to join. We scheduled a meeting with Flavio, who gave me a warm welcome and introduced me to the different structures. We talked about my strengths and what kind of work I enjoy doing and I eventually ended up in the Glossary lead team with Flavio, Max and Mahmoud.

They made me feel very welcome from the start and I was positively surprised that there was room to find tasks that would fit my strengths and personality. They helped me get familiar with everything, and gave me the feeling that they genuinely care about me as a person.

What I appreciate a lot is the warm working atmosphere. I always feel like my work is highly appreciated and that there is room for suggestions and ideas. I am very thankful for this welcoming and caring atmosphere of FORRT, and I am looking forward to all future collaborations with this community.

—Leonie—

Learning, Contributing, Belonging: My Experience with FORRT

When I first joined FORRT, I was new to the open-source world and hungry to dive into open science. Yo Yehudi from Open Life Science (OLS) connected me with Flavio and invited me into the FORRT Slack channel and from that very first welcome (emojis and all!), I felt right at home.

As I explored the FORRT materials, I discovered the incredible work that FORRT is doing to advance transparency and ethics in research. With my technical background, I began contributing to the website adding content and implementing some improvements and quickly found myself immersed in a vibrant, supportive community.

But FORRT has offered me so much more than just web-development experience. Through hands-on contributions, I’ve learned about reproducibility in research, open access, and best practices in academia. Collaborating with researchers has broadened my perspective and sharpened my skills in ways I never expected.

FORRT’s commitment to pedagogical reform and inclusive open scholarship is truly inspiring. I’m grateful for the amazing people behind this initiative and for every opportunity to grow alongside them.

To anyone considering joining FORRT: jump in! You’ll learn more, contribute more, and have far more fun than you ever imagined. Cheers!”