Program Details - Champions

🔗 Program goals

In its inaugural year, the rOpenSci Champions Program aims to support R developers, from around the world, and who identify themselves as members of a group that is systematically excluded from the open software community to:

• Gain the skills to develop their own R package or;
• Gain confidence in submitting an R package for peer review or become a reviewer.
• Learn how to lead a workshop or other event about package development or software peer review - or another rOpenSci activity - in their local community.
• Connect with a supportive network of peers and mentors within the R ecosystem.
• Provide feedback to help rOpenSci to continue to host relevant, welcoming activities for R developers.
• Gain transferable skills and experiences that are sought after for careers in open source software.

We are looking six to nine Champions for this first pilot. We expect to co-create the rOpenSci Champion program with the selected applicants and influence future editions with their experience and feedback.

We look forward to receiving many applications and are committed to directing non-selected applicants towards other ways in which they can contribute to rOpenSci.

🔗 Eligibility

We are looking for people that work on STEAM fields, from anywhere in the world, who identify with the above and who:

• Already have development knowledge with the R language and a solid idea for an R package they’d like to develop, or;

• Have already developed an R package, and want to have it peer reviewed through rOpenSci.

• Want to become a reviewer for rOpenSci.

• Have basic English communication skills (written and verbal).

🔗 About the program

The rOpenSci Champions Program is a 12-month-long program including cohort-based training, project development, and personal mentorship.

Champions will participate in:

• A 6-week long cohort-based training on:

  • how to plan and facilitate engaging and inclusive workshops to support participants’ success,
  • knowledge of various channels through which new members can engage in and contribute to rOpenSci and R projects, and
  • technical skills in software development and review.

• Personal and group mentorship:

  • A series of meetings with mentors;
  • Quarterly cohort calls.

🔗 What are the benefits of taking part?

By participating in this program, you can help rOpenSci and your community grow. In addition to training and personal mentoring, some other benefits you will receive are:

• Learn and practice organizing and teaching workshops;

• Learn and practice reviewer, and developer skills;

• Gain insights from other experts and expand your professional network;

• Gain visibility through training, mentorship, and content creation;

• Get recognition and acknowledgment for your work;

• Co-develop this program and other rOpenSci projects by sharing feedback;

• Become an active contributing member of the rOpenSci community;

• Create content in the language of your community;

• Empower members of your community by sharing what you learn;

• Become a mentor to other members of your community.

We will provide a $1000 (USD) stipend to the selected community Champions.

🔗 Program expectations

Champions are expected to complete training and attend meetings with their mentors and cohorts. After training, Champions will develop their own project. Projects may involve building a new package or going through the peer review process as an author or a reviewer.

Champions will also choose and perform several activities, such as running recruitment activities, giving presentations, writing blog posts, and organizing peer groups in their communities.

It is expected that Champions will promote participation in peer review and contribution to rOpenSci open source software, infrastructure, and documentation. They will also gather feedback on where rOpenSci’s current programming might be improved to meet the needs of all who wish to participate.

The estimated time commitment for each Champion is, on average, 10 hours per month (including trainings, cohort events, mentoring meetings, package development or review process, and preparing for and hosting events). The total time commitment for each Champion will vary based on the path and activities they choose to do during the program.