Applications Open: Preregistration and Outcome Reporting Advisory Group

The Center for Open Science (COS) is seeking new members for its Preregistration and Outcome Reporting Advisory Group, formerly the Preregistration Template Working Group. Terms begin in December 2026.

COS anchors its mission in lifecycle open science: research with publicly accessible plans, content (data, materials, and code), and outcomes that are linked and findable in a persistent, open location. The OSF supports researchers in carrying out lifecycle open science, beginning with study planning. Preregistration templates are a key part of that work, guiding researchers on how to document and disclose their study designs and analysis plans before data are observed.

COS has sourced many of the templates on OSF directly from research communities, so that they meet those communities' needs and reflect disciplinary norms. The Advisory Group builds on the work of the original Preregistration Template Working Group, which evaluated these community-developed templates for inclusion on OSF. Like its predecessor, the group will review templates and recommend them for inclusion, while ensuring they meet core standards. These standards set a common baseline for what a registered study plan must include, regardless of discipline or design and enable cross disciplinary, metascientific research. 

The group will also take on a new, broader role, advising COS on how the OSF can support outcome reporting. Reporting the results of preregistered research has many challenges, and the board will advise COS on how to build tools that guide research towards best practices when reporting their work.

Members of the Advisory Group will:

• Maintain the criteria and rubric for reviewing preregistration template submissions, including shared elements that should be consistent across templates

• Review current and community-submitted templates and recommend revisions

• Advise on how template-specific elements can be mapped and aggregated to support research on registered studies

• Advise on alignment between preregistration templates and outcome reporting best practices across disciplines

Members will meet monthly for a one-hour virtual meeting and should expect to spend 3–5 additional hours per month reviewing templates and following trends in study planning and outcome reporting. Terms are two years, with the option to renew.

Applicants will be evaluated on experience with research design and data analysis; knowledge of and experience with registration workflows, preregistration and registration templates, and research reporting guidelines; and a demonstrated commitment to transparency and openness in research. COS encourages applications from researchers across disciplines, career stages, world regions, and demographic groups underrepresented in academic research.

In recognition of members' expertise, COS offers an annual honorarium of $1,250.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. For best consideration, submit the Preregistration and Outcome Reporting Advisory Group Application by October 30, 2026.