Timothy Behrens
eLife is pleased to announce Timothy (Tim) Behrens as its new Editor-in-Chief to lead the initiative’s efforts to transform research communication.
Behrens, Professor of Computational Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and University College London, as well as a Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow and Group Leader at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, is a long-time supporter and contributor to eLife’s work. Behrens and Detlef Weigel had served as interim co-Editors-in-Chief for just over a year. With his dedication and extensive experience at eLife, Behrens has now been selected after an open and competitive search process.
As Editor-in-Chief, Behrens is responsible for the editorial direction and vision of the journal, providing leadership to eLife’s academic editors. He will be the public face and champion of the journal, promoting it within the research community and driving forward its new approach to peer-review and publishing excellence in science.
Joanne Hackett, Chair of eLife’s Board of Directors and Vice President of Health System Services at IQVIA, says: “eLife is at a critical point in its journey. Tim’s inspiring ability to step up and help face challenges head on while remaining a steadfast advocate of its publishing model made him the ideal candidate for this role. Additionally, his experience on both sides of the model, as a researcher and member of eLife’s editorial board, will be invaluable for its ongoing development and promotion to the wider community. We’re delighted to welcome him officially as Editor-in-Chief and look forward to working with him on eLife’s next steps.”
Erin O’Shea, President of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and a member of the eLife Board, adds: “HHMI has long championed models, like eLife’s, that put scientists at the center of scientific publishing. Tim’s commitment to exploring new approaches to publishing, coupled with his accomplishments as a researcher and editor, make him a perfect fit for this position.”
In support of eLife’s broader mission to improve research communication for all, Behrens will work with the organisation’s Technology and Innovation team to inform the development of open-source software for the review, display and curation of Reviewed Preprints published in eLife and elsewhere. He will also provide support to eLife’s research culture programme, including the work of the Early-Career Advisory Group, Community Ambassadors and other initiatives to ensure that a truly global community helps create a future for research communication that benefits everyone.
“I’m really happy to have been selected for this role,” Behrens says. “It is a very exciting time at eLife as we try to push the frontiers of publishing and navigate the challenges along the way. It will be a pleasure to continue working with the editors and staff to do this. They have real energy and creativity to make a difference and I hope the research community continues to keep an eye on what we’re doing.”
Damian Pattinson, eLife Executive Director, adds: “I’m delighted with Tim’s appointment as Editor-in-Chief. He has done a fantastic job with Detlef Weigel over the last year in steering eLife forward in its mission. He has always been an active participant in deciding how we can improve our editorial processes for researchers and readers – in fact he was involved in the original conception of the eLife Model, especially the eLife Assessments that serve as the curation step in the model. He is an enormous asset to eLife and I look forward to working with him in developing his strategy for the journal.”
After serving as interim co-Editor-in-Chief for over a year, Detlef Weigel will remain with eLife as a Senior Editor. Weigel was a Deputy Editor when eLife was launched in 2012 and remained in this role until he was appointed co-Editor-in-Chief in early 2024. Behrens, Pattinson and the eLife Board express their gratitude to him for his dedication, support and leadership.
“I’d like to thank Detlef for such a productive year while we were working together,” Behrens says. “I’ll miss the energy and wisdom he brought to the role, but I’m delighted that he’ll be staying on as part of the team.”
Media contacts
Emily Packer
eLife
e.packer@elifesciences.org
+441223855373George Litchfield
eLife
g.litchfield@elifesciences.org
About
eLife transforms research communication to create a future where a diverse, global community of scientists and researchers produces open and trusted results for the benefit of all. Independent, not-for-profit and supported by funders, we improve the way science is practised and shared. From the research we publish, to the tools we build, to the people we work with, we’ve earned a reputation for quality, integrity and the flexibility to bring about real change. eLife receives financial support and strategic guidance from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Max Planck Society and Wellcome. Learn more at https://elifesciences.org/about.
