Launched in 2021, Institute for Research Software Fellow Peter Schmidt's Code for Thought podcast has become an important space for conversations about research software and the people who make it. In his latest episode, Peter sits down with Shoaib Sufi, Community Team Lead, and Oscar Seip, Research Community Manager, to go behind the scenes of the Fellowship Programme. How it started, how it has changed over fourteen years, and where it's heading next.
From 'Agents' to Ambassadors
The Fellowship traces back to 2012, when the first cohort was recruited not as Fellows but as 'Agents'. This name was later dropped once it was clear that their real value was not in reporting back to the Institute, but in acting as ambassadors for good research software practice within their own communities.
In the podcast, Shoaib, who has been involved with the programme since that first cohort, and Oscar, who joined two years ago after a career spanning digital humanities research and a growing interest in research software engineering, trace how a scheme run by a single person has grown into a much more structured operation, with dedicated finance, community and mentorship support behind it.
A more inclusive, more human application process
One of the important changes covered in the episode is the shift from written applications to short video submissions. The switch, made before the COVID-19 pandemic and for reasons distinct from it, was intended to help reviewers get a genuine sense of each applicant. This is much harder to do from a text alone, particularly given the rise of AI writing tools. The move also helped level the playing field for applicants without conventional academic track records to point to.
Selection itself has also moved fully online, with existing Fellows playing a central role in reviewing and selecting the next cohort, which is a distinctive and unique feature of how the programme is run.
Mentorship, international Fellows, and life beyond coding
The episode also explores newer additions to the programme, including:
- A more structured mentorship scheme, developed in partnership with OLS, pairing new Fellows with experienced ones. You can read more about it on our Fellows Mentorship page.
- A pilot opening a small number of places to international applicants, alongside the continued focus on UK research impact.
- A growing recognition that the Fellowship is for anyone championing good research software and computational practices — not only those who write code.
- The introduction of cohort-based learning, supported by the DisCouRSE project and delivered in partnership with OLS and the RCM Cooperative. This training aims to help Fellows build skills in areas like project and community management.
Applications are open now
As discussed in the episode, applications for the next round of the Fellowship Programme are open now and close on 5 October 2026. Successful applicants will be notified in December and begin their 15-month Fellowship in January 2027.
If you're considering applying, the Institute offers free pre-application support where existing Fellows are on hand to talk through your ideas, however early-stage they might be. Full details, key dates, and guidance on how to apply are available on our Fellowship Programme page.
Catch up on more Fellow conversations
This is only the latest in a series of conversations Peter has recorded with Fellows and Institute staff. Previous coverage includes:
- 2025 SSI Fellows on the Code for Thought Podcast with Mike Simpson, Esther Plomp and Niko Sirmpilatze
- 2025 SSI Fellows on the Code for Thought Podcast (Part Two) with Sangeeta Bhatia, Jyoti Bhogal and Deborah Udoh
You'll find the full back-catalogue of Code for Thought episodes featuring Institute Fellows on our Fellowship Programme page, and can follow the podcast directly on Buzzsprout, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or via RSS.
If you have any questions about the Fellowship Programme? Get in touch with the team at fellows-management@software.ac.uk.