eLife is pleased to announce that we’ve appointed Kamran Naim as the new Chair of our Board of Directors. As Head of Open Science at CERN, Switzerland, and having served on the eLife Board for the past year, he brings extensive experience of publishing and open science to the role.
eLife’s new Chair Kamran Naim (left) and early-career representative Philip (Pip) Coen. Photos courtesy of Kamran Naim and Edward Emberson.
Naim replaces Joanne Hackett, who stepped down as Chair last month, having held the position since 2023.
“I’m honored to have been selected as Chair,” Naim says. “It’s a very exciting time for eLife as we continue our efforts to transform research communication with our innovative publishing model, and through our technology programme that’s just received new support from Wellcome.
“eLife was founded on a radical premise: that science deserves better than the legacy systems that shape how it is evaluated and shared. It has not simply challenged the status quo in scholarly publishing – it has built credible alternatives, demonstrating that transparency, rigour and fairness can replace outdated hierarchies and incentives. I am inspired to support the team as they advance a bold agenda of innovation that will help shape a more open, rigorous and equitable future for science.”
Speaking about Hackett’s departure, Naim adds: “I’ve greatly valued serving this past year alongside Joanne, who proved to be a steadfast and engaged member of the Board through both the challenges and successes we encountered. We will greatly miss the experience and knowledge she brought to eLife, and we thank her for her service and wish her the very best for the future.”
eLife has also welcomed Philip (Pip) Coen, Principal Research Fellow at University College London (UCL), UK, as our new Board representative for early-career researchers. Coen was selected for the role following an open call to scientists across the world with a proven track record in open science. Working with Naim and the other directors, he will assist in determining eLife’s strategic priorities, developing policy and maintaining high standards of probity within the organisation.
Coen established his laboratory in UCL’s Cell and Developmental Biology department in 2023, following his postdoctoral fellowship. His lab uses electrophysiology, optogenetics and behavioural paradigms in mice to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying audiovisual integration and sensory-guided decisions. In his role on the eLife Board, he will also help coordinate and support the work of our Early-Career Advisory Group.
“I'm very excited to have been chosen for this position," Coen says. "I welcome the opportunity to champion eLife's efforts in driving positive change in publishing and assessment from the perspective of an early-career researcher. Transforming the publication landscape creates significant benefits for all researchers, though the nature of those benefits varies with seniority. It is therefore fantastic that eLife strives to reflect a diversity of career stages in the composition of their board.”
Naim adds: “Pip’s contributions will be crucial in guiding our activities for the next generation of researchers, especially as we’re also continuing to push for reform in research assessment which requires input from the entire community. We’re looking forward to working with him to help realise our goals.”
