Unique collaboration between faculties and University Library shows how ‘invisible’ knowledge workers contribute to Open Science

Stavrakakis and Bollini both work as data stewards at the University Library (UB). “We support researchers in drawing up data management plans, store research data securely and advise on privacy,” says Bollini. “I first came across data management whilst doing my master’s degree. I found the field so interesting that I decided to apply when the University Library advertised a vacancy for a data steward.”

Stavrakakis, too, made a conscious choice to take on a support role. “For the past 10 years, I worked as a research assistant for universities in Greece and Ireland. In practice, it proved difficult to secure a permanent position as a researcher. Finding new projects often felt like a struggle. I didn’t want that anymore. So when I saw that the University Library needed data stewards, I seized the opportunity. In this role, the knowledge and experience I gained as a research assistant come in very handy. At the same time, this job gives me the stability I was looking for. I moved from Ireland to Maastricht and now I feel completely at home here.”

Added value

According to Stavrakakis and Bollini, their work offers significant added value to researchers at UM. Stavrakakis: “Among other things, we ensure that UM’s policies on academic integrity and Open Science are adhered to. In addition, we help researchers understand the importance of good data management, privacy and data protection. Naturally, we also assist them with this.” Bollini adds: “I’ve noticed that researchers appreciate being able to bounce ideas off someone who is completely at home in the world of data management. This saves them a lot of time, because thanks to us, they don’t have to trawl through all sorts of documents to find an answer to their data management-related queries.”

However, they do find it regrettable that their work largely remains unseen. “As a result, researchers often don’t know we’re here and what we can do for them,” says Bollini. Stavrakakis nods in agreement. “That applies to other knowledge workers too. We invest a great deal of time and energy in addressing the complex problems that researchers bring to us. This way, we make an important contribution to scientific research. I think it’s a shame that this isn’t always recognised. As a result, we’re often left feeling a bit unsatisfied.”

Bollini and Stavrakakis agree that the work of knowledge workers deserves greater recognition. But how do you go about that? That is one of the key questions at the heart of the project Invisible knowledge work and the transformation and scaling of Open Science practices. To answer that question, a postdoctoral researcher will spend the next two years conducting an in-depth study of the work of knowledge workers across three faculties and the University Library. 

Project leader Bart Penders is supervising this researcher, together with a multidisciplinary team. “Yannis and Penelope are part of this team, which also comprises researchers and support staff from the FASoS, FPN and FHML faculties, as well as the University Library,” he explains. “We have received a grant of €250,000 from Open Science NL for this project. We’d also like to find out what role knowledge workers play in Open Science, how Open Science is put into practice, and how it can continue to grow in the future.”

What’s remarkable is that the project was jointly proposed by the three faculties and the University Library. Penders: “Normally, University Library staff do not play a role in this. By involving them this time, we were already contributing to the empowerment of knowledge workers even before the project began. The University Library staff formally act as both applicants and supervisors for the postdoctoral researcher. They are therefore on an equal footing with the faculties. We see this as a first form of recognition of their work.”

Million dollar question

What other forms of recognition are there? That is the million-dollar question. “To answer that, we’re also looking beyond the academic world,” says Penders. “Research has already been carried out into invisible work in other sectors of society. In the healthcare sector, for example. Ways of recognising this work have also been explored. We’re incorporating the results of this research into our own study, as there’s much we can learn from it. Possible forms of recognition include, for example, a good salary, career opportunities, being included in the list of authors of a scientific publication, or an academic award. But that’s not something we as researchers can decide on our own. That’s why we’d like knowledge workers to contribute their ideas on this.”

Penders expects the first results six months after the start of the research (September 2026/ed.). “I think we’ll be amazed by the sheer volume of invisible work that exists within our university. At the moment, nobody has an overview of this, and I think it’s incredibly valuable that our project can provide that.”