Center for Open Science

We are a non-profit organization founded in 2013 in Charlottesville, Virginia. We primarily develop software using Python and Javascript, applying principles from science and statistics to our work. Our goal is to align scientific values with actual research practices, making it easier for knowledge to grow and be used.

We maintain the Open Science Framework (OSF), a research software tool. OSF helps researchers manage projects with more rigor and openly share findings. We support the full “open research lifecycle,” allowing researchers to share data, materials, code, papers, and preprints, and to register their research for increased transparency.

We also provide education, training, and support to help research communities adopt open and reproducible practices. We conduct metascience (research on research itself) to find inefficiencies and test ways to improve research practices. For institutions, we offer sales support for OSF software products and provide open scholarship training.

In 2023, both COS and the OSF received SOC2 accreditation. We’ve also been recognized by Charity Navigator and Candid for our financial transparency.

Our mission is to increase the openness, integrity, and reproducibility of scholarly research. We envision a future scholarly community where research processes, content, and outcomes are openly accessible by default.

This means all scholarly content will be preserved, connected, and versioned. Service providers will compete on quality, not content control. Institutions will evaluate researchers on content and process, and funders will have insight into their investments. Researchers will prioritize accuracy over where they publish, reviewers will receive recognition, and librarians will apply their expertise throughout the research lifecycle. Ultimately, all stakeholders will have direct access to evidence.

Our philosophy is to align scholarly practices with scholarly values. We do this through a systems strategy that combines technology, community building, and engaging stakeholders. We are dedicated to openness, encouraging risk-taking, and blending science with technology.

We are a distributed team of 11-50 employees. We have a technology start-up atmosphere, acting quickly to identify problems, create solutions, and encourage smart risk-taking. Our team is collaborative, high-energy, and dedicated to openness, blending science and technology expertise.

As a fully remote organization, we offer flexible schedules and support a diverse, distributed team. Our work environment emphasizes quality design and architecture, agile methodology, and contributing to the open-source community.

We prioritize a positive work environment, work-life balance, and empowering our people to grow professionally. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our mission and strategy.

• We offer a 401(k) plan with an employer match: we cover 100% up to 3% of your pay, plus an additional 50% up to 5%, for a total match of 4% if you defer 5%.
• We provide health, dental, and vision insurance, covering 100% of the employee premium and 50% of dependent coverage costs under our base plan.
• You can also enroll in Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• We offer up to three months of paid medical leave for needs such as caring for a child after birth or adoption, or for a serious health condition affecting you, your spouse, child, or parent.
• As a fully remote organization, we provide employees with a MacBook and Google Workspace.
• Other benefits include 15 days of paid time off and 5 days of sick leave in your first year, plus 11 paid holidays annually.