The Review Writers' Program
The ResearchOps Review Writers’ Program is made possible by User Interviews, now part of UserTesting. → Learn more about User Interviews for ResearchOps.
Applications for the 2026–27 Cohort Are Now Closed
Please subscribe to The ResearchOps Review on Substack or follow us on LinkedIn to be the first to know when applications to join our 2027–28 cohort open in late 2026.
The ResearchOps Review’s mission is to arm leaders building customer-centric organisations with expert ResearchOps insights. Each year, through editorial mentorship, we help twenty-two professionals publish writing that sets standards for world-class research operations.
If you’re interested in writing an article for The Review, this page will share what to expect and how to apply—we receive more applications than we have the capacity to publish—and what we expect from writers and their articles.
About Review Articles
Review articles are laser-focused on ResearchOps but cover a range of topics, including how research teams operate (structure, scope, and strategy), systems design and tactics, technological change and innovation, and career development. We look for these seven qualities when we evaluate applications:
Relevant to ResearchOps: Is your topic laser-focused on the field?
Rigorous and evidence-based: Are your insights backed by real-world experience shared via examples, citations, or case studies?
Practical and actionable: Will readers be able to use the insights you’ve shared?
Original: Does your article provide a fresh perspective, even when the topic is well-worn?
Sophisticated without jargon: Is your topic and concept intellectually substantial? Can you explain it in a way that’s accessible to all readers?
Sharp and thought-provoking: Will your article challenge assumptions about research operations? Are you willing to make difficult observations?
Written by a human: Is your draft written by you, not AI? We use AI in certain parts of our editing process, but AI-generated content doesn't meet our editorial standards and creates challenges we can't resolve through editing.
Though you might not meet all of these qualities in your application—that’s a lot to fit in—should you be accepted, our editorial process will ensure that your published Review article ticks every box.
How We Work with Writers
The Review is a professional publication with high standards, so we ask our writers to do more than simply try their best and submit a first draft. If you’re accepted, you’ll be invited to:
Attend a ninety-minute virtual workshop with UX publishing legend Katel LeDû that will equip you to write your best first draft. This workshop will happen in March 2026. We’ll do our best to accommodate everyone’s time zones.
After the workshop, we’ll provide you with a first-draft submission date. We run a like-clockwork publishing schedule, so honouring due dates is crucial.
Once you submit your first draft, you’ll receive multiple rounds of developmental editing (structure, themes, and purpose) with founder and editor in chief Kate Towsey, and one to two rounds of line editing with Katel for final polish.
Finally, we’ll publish your article in The ResearchOps Review and handle all graphic production, publishing, and marketing. We’ll ask you to lend a hand by posting and reposting, too.
Writing for The ResearchOps Review is a commitment—you’ll be asked to agree to our Writers’ Agreement—but it’s also a learning experience. Each of our writers has grown in confidence and skill, reached a new audience, been proud of the results, and, at times, been offered opportunities because they’ve been published in The Review.
How to Apply
Please hit “Apply to Join” and complete the six-question form. The form will encourage you to consider your topic and how your article will fulfil the seven qualities of a Review article.
Applications for the 2026–27 cohort close on February 27, 2026.
When You’ll Hear from Us
On March 6, 2026, we’ll email you to let you know whether you’ve been accepted or not, and what happens next.
We work with just twenty-two writers each year, and receive more applications than we can accept. This means that strong applications are sometimes declined due to editorial capacity, timing, or because the topic overlaps too closely with content we’ve already published or are developing.
If your application isn’t accepted, we’ll email you to let you know. Given the volume of applications, our decisions are final, and we’re unable to provide individual feedback.
We appreciate your interest in writing for The Review!
Kate Towsey
Found and Editor in Chief, The ResearchOps Review
Brought to You By
The Writers' Program is made possible by User Interviews, now part of UserTesting. With a vast participant network, precise matching, and fraud prevention, User Interviews can reliably fill any research study. Source, screen, track and pay participants, then move seamlessly from data collection to deep analysis, all in one place. → Learn more about User Interviews for ResearchOps.