About Us
What is Co(l)laboratory?
Co(l)laboratory (pronounced co-laboratory), or Co(l)lab for short, is a pioneering new research programme supported by Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham, and the Universities for Nottingham partnership. Co(l)lab aims to bring together researchers, community-focused organisations, and local citizens to deliver meaningful change for the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Co(l)lab is an 8-year, £5.1m project, funded by the Research England Development Fund and launched in 2022. The programme will work with local communities to shape research that address challenges which are important to them. To carry out this research, Co(l)lab will recruit 50 PhD candidates and 25 Research Placement candidates from local communities, supporting them to become future leaders in community engaged research. Ultimately, Co(l)lab aims to support positive, evidence-based change for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire communities through it’s research.
Co(l)laboratory’s Mission
Through our broad portfolio of work, Co(l)laboratory’s mission is to reimagine a new way of doing PhD-level. One where communities have a meaningful place within the research life cycle, where postgraduate research is made accessible to talented individuals who are typically excluded from such opportunities, and where both PhD candidates and communities can develop themselves to become champions of local evidence-based change.
Research with and for the community
Co(l)laboratory puts community knowledge and experience at the core of research. A central focus of our work is to create processes and opportunities that enable Nottingham(shire) communities and community focused organisations to be meaningfully involved in our research.
From setting the research agenda, to co-creation new projects, to delivering the research, and then ensuring the benefits are shared where they will make the biggest impact.
