The Centre for Protecting Women Online (CPWO) at The Open University is pleased to announce the launch of Round 2 of its Industry and Innovation Fellowships, an exciting opportunity for professionals outside academia to collaborate directly with leading researchers on urgent challenges affecting women and girls online.
This fellowship programme is designed for individuals working across industry, technology, policing, policy, design, the charity sector, and frontline services who are passionate about improving safety, equity, and wellbeing in digital environments.
Collaborating to Protect Women and Girls in Digital Spaces
Centre for Protecting Women Online (CPWO), The Open University
Published: 13 January 2026
About the Industry and Innovation Fellowships
The CPWO Industry and Innovation Fellowships are secondment-based opportunities that enable meaningful knowledge exchange between research and real-world practice. Fellows will spend dedicated time working with CPWO researchers on a focused project, contributing professional expertise while co-creating outputs that influence policy, practice, and technology design.
Fellows may:
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Propose their own project idea aligned with CPWO’s mission, or
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Join an existing CPWO-led project (see project areas below)
Throughout the fellowship, participants will become active members of the Centre’s research community and benefit from CPWO’s extensive national and international networks.
What Fellows Will Do
During the fellowship, participants will:
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Work closely with CPWO researchers on a defined project
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Contribute sector expertise and applied knowledge
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Participate in the Centre’s research culture and public engagement activities
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Present findings at a dedicated CPWO event
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Co-produce impactful outputs such as:
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Research reports
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Policy briefings
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Toolkits
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Blogs, podcasts, or practice guidance
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Who Can Apply?
Individual Eligibility
Applications are welcomed from professionals at all career stages who meet the following criteria:
Applicants must:
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Be based in the United Kingdom
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Be affiliated with an eligible UK-registered organisation
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Provide written permission from their employer to undertake the fellowship
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Confirm salary costs for the duration of the fellowship
Please note:
Self-employed applicants and applicants based outside the UK are not eligible.
Organisational Eligibility
Participating organisations must:
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Be registered in the UK
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If employing more than 50 staff and/or with turnover above £2 million, be prepared to offer the Fellow’s time as an in-kind contribution (unless strong justification for funding support is provided)
For smaller organisations, CPWO may cover secondment costs (subject to funding and capacity) for up to:
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55 days (equivalent to 3 months full-time)
Fellowship Structure and Duration
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Offered on a secondment basis
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Can be full-time or part-time
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Minimum commitment: 1 day per week
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Fellowship activities and outputs must be completed within 12 months
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Flexible start dates available from 1 October 2026
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Alternative models may be considered by prior agreement
Applicants are encouraged to contact CPWO ahead of the deadline to discuss flexible arrangements or bespoke collaboration models.
Project Areas Available in Round 2
Fellows may join one of the following cutting-edge projects or propose a new idea aligned with CPWO’s mission:
Key Project Themes Include:
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Future Harms and Digital Threats to Women and Girls
Exploring emerging risks such as deepfakes, synthetic media, immersive technologies, and AI-enabled coercion. -
Data Partnerships for Public Protection
Ethical collaboration between policing and digital platforms to enhance intelligence-sharing and risk detection. -
Digital Wellbeing and Secondary Trauma in Policing
Investigating psychological impacts on digital investigators and developing resilience and wellbeing models. -
Mapping Hybrid Harms: Misogyny, Extortion, and Ideological Violence Online
Examining the convergence of sexualised online abuse and extremist or ideological harassment. -
Auditing Digital Threats and Harms to Women and Girls
Analysing how harms are enabled or mitigated across the software development lifecycle. -
‘Safety by Design’ and the Online Safety Act 2023
Assessing industry compliance and best practices under UK legal requirements. -
Gender Biases and Stereotypes in Technology Design
Investigating how bias influences design decisions and technological outcomes. -
Intersectionality and Gendered Violence Online
Exploring how overlapping identities affect experiences and interventions around online abuse. -
Online Sexual Harassment in Schools
Mapping and evaluating existing resources for educators and identifying gaps. -
Responsible AI in Practice
Reviewing how Responsible AI frameworks succeed—or fail—in preventing online harms. -
Radicalisation Pathways into the Manosphere
A cross-disciplinary study using social data, psychology, and AI to understand misogynistic online communities. -
The Impact of AI Companions on Face-to-Face Relationships
Examining risks and benefits of AI companionship on human relationships. -
Extending an Ontology of Online Gender-Based Harms
Developing responsible, semi-automated methods to classify and understand online gendered violence.
Applicants may also propose their own project idea aligned with CPWO’s objectives.
What’s in It for You?
As a CPWO Industry and Innovation Fellow, you will:
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Gain advanced research experience and new skills
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Influence policy, policing, practice, and technology design
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Build strong cross-sector and academic networks
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Co-create impactful, real-world outputs
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Contribute directly to protecting women and girls online
Key Dates
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Application deadline: 16 March 2026 (12:00 midday)
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Decisions communicated: Mid-April 2026
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Fellowship start date: From 1 October 2026 (flexible)
How to Apply
Applicants must complete the official application form and submit it along with a supporting letter from their employer
Applications should include:
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Background, skills, and experience
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Proposed project or contribution to an existing project
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Planned activities and outputs
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Preferred start date and time commitment
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Employer confirmation of eligibility, funding, or in-kind support
- APPLY HERE
Get in Touch
CPWO strongly encourages potential applicants to make contact before applying to discuss project ideas, eligibility, funding models, or partnership opportunities.
Centre for Protecting Women Online
Faculty of Business and Law (Law)
The Open University
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA, United Kingdom
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