About Us
The Center of Trial & Error is a virtual platform and sandbox for disruptive initiatives that will lead to institutional change.
With the Journal of Trial & Error as our flagship, we aim to bridge the gap between what researchers do and what researchers can report, to discuss and question what kind of knowledge is deemed valuable, to advocate for practices that positively impact the lives of researchers and the public, and to advance policies that put openness, transparency and compassion above profit, division and bottom lines.
Our Mission
The Center of Trial & Error believes that a more transparent, responsible, honest, and reflexive way of doing scholarship requires institutional change. It thereby tries to disrupt existing scholarly infrastructures by empowering early career researchers to develop and explore the possibilities of non-profit and value-driven platforms for academic activities.
Moreover, the Center aims to provide space for ongoing and independent reflection on academic culture, systemic structures, research and academic education and wants to connect those who (try to) enforce practical change. To do so, the Center hosts five branches around our Journal, publishing, training, research, and software development.
Meet the Team
Stefan
Stefan Gaillard specializes in failure, uncertainty, and erroneous claims – both in science and society. He is one of the co-founders of the Journal of Trial and Error and currently works on the special issue on scientific failure in the health domain.
Stefan Gaillard
Co-founder, Editor, Special Issue Editor-in-Chief
Violet
Interested in science communication and education, Violet has been involved with Publishers of Trial & Error since 2023. They are currently finishing their degree in bioprocess engineering at Wageningen University.
Violet Zagt
Project Manager
Michelle
Michelle is currently finishing up her BAs in History and English Language and Culture at the Utrecht University and is interested in political history, memory studies and environmental humanities. Besides her studies, she is the chairwoman of the Dutch Debatbond. For the Center of Trial and Error, Michelle will assist with several projects to advance the Center's goals.
Michelle Moonen
Project Assistant
Martijn
Martijn is a historian of science and medicine and works as a lecturer and researcher at Erasmus Medical Centre and Erasmus University Rotterdam. He is also a policy advisor on responsible research at Tilburg University. In 2018, he co-founded the Center of Trial and Error and currently chairs the board.
Martijn van der Meer
Chair
Jobke
Jobke holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Utrecht University and has been involved with the Centre of Trial and Error since its conception. They study European history at Maastricht University, in the Research Master European Studies.
Jobke Visser
Managing Editor
Maura Burke
Editor-in-Chief
Max
Max is an anthropologist and media scientist by training, educated in Belgium, Poland, the Netherlands and the UK. As the Social Media Manager, Max produces content and leads communication efforts across COTE's social media platforms.
Max Monko
Social Media Manager
Marcel
Marcel Hobma is a student in History and Philosophy of Science, and trained as an (investigative) journalist. His interests vary from the Philosophy of Biology to the incentive structure of science. He currently works on his Master's thesis on the cultural evolution of values in nutrition science.
Marcel Hobma
Blog Editor
Thomas F. K.
Having a background in theoretical physics, Thomas is finishing his master's in philosophy of science. Passionate about open science and open source software, they manage all the darn IT in this place, and do the typesetting for the journal and publishing efforts of the Center.
Thomas F. K. Jorna
IT Director
David
David is currently a PhD student at Heidelberg University & GESIS bridging the gap between Cognitive Psychology & Measurement Theory.
He is Editor of the Psychology section of the Journal of Trial & Error, striving to embrace the Center's openness concept of publishing & academic exchange for Psychology.
David Grüning
Psychology Editor
Lisette
Lisette is a social scientist and works as a teacher at Utrecht University for the bachelor and master programs of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. She is one of the board members of the Center.
Lisette Brouns
Board Member
Sarahanne
Sarahanne's a metascientist who conducts research on the science reform/open science movement, debates and controversies in the community, and the practices they engage in. She's not only interested in what goes wrong with science, but in how and why it has gone wrong.
Sarahanne Field
Meta-Research Editor
Aoife
Aoife is completing her PhD in Psychology at Cardiff University where her work focuses on Registered Reports. She works as an associate lecturer at the Open University and at Wrexham Glyndwr University, teaching across psychology and childhood studies. Her background is mainly in healthcare research and systematic reviews, and she is particularly interested in transparent and trustworthy health-related research.
Aoife O'Mahony
Copy Editor