Nominate the Next BrainFacts Editor-in-Chief
Dear Colleagues,
We’re excited to share some news and to invite your help. We are beginning the search for the next Editor-in-Chief of BrainFacts, the Society's online platform for trusted and engaging resource for neuroscience information. The current Editor-in-Chief, Richard Wingate, will conclude his term in 2027.
We have assembled a search committee to help identify the next Editor-In-Chief and are seeking someone who is enthusiastic about public education, passionate about neuroscience, and eager to share the wonders of the brain with audiences around the world. Does someone come to mind? Or could this be you?
We are now soliciting nominations from SfN members for the BrainFacts Editor-in-Chief position. Self-nominations and nominations of others are both welcome. Please submit nominations by email to Melissa Thompson Ayoub (mthompson@sfn.org), SfN Senior Director of Digital Strategy & Communications/Chief of Staff, by Wednesday, March 4, 5 p.m. EST.
Nominations should include a brief statement (3–4 sentences) describing why you are nominating this individual or your interest in the role if self-nominating.
All nominees will then be invited to formally apply for the position if they wish. The Search Committee plans to interview a shortlist of candidates in the spring, with the final appointment expected to be confirmed by the SfN Council in the summer.
For more than 14 years, BrainFacts has served as a leading online destination for clear, reliable, and engaging information about the brain and nervous system. In 2025 alone, the site reached more than 2 million users, generated 4 million pageviews, and recorded 2 million engagement events—continuing a strong year-over-year performance. More than half of BrainFacts visitors come from outside the United States, and the site’s interactive 3D Brain and Educator Resources remain especially valuable to teachers and students worldwide.
The Editor-in-Chief (EiC) works closely with the Editorial Board to advise SfN staff in producing a steady stream of accessible, original content. Together, they ensure that both original and partner content support BrainFacts’ mission as a trusted, engaging source of neuroscience information.
The SfN Council has appointed this Search Committee to recommend candidates for the three-year EiC appointment. The next EiC will be BrainFacts’ fourth, following Richard Wingate, John H. Morrison, and Nicholas Spitzer.
EiC Search Committee:
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Damien Fair, Search Committee Chair (University of Minnesota)
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BJ Casey (Barnard College)
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Stuart Firestein (Columbia University)
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Emilie Marcus (Biomedical Research Strategy Consultant)
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Kelley Remole (Yale University)
In evaluating candidates, the Search Committee will consider:
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Demonstrated commitment to and enthusiasm for public outreach and engagement
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Leadership and service in neuroscience communication
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Ability to serve as a consistently engaged SfN volunteer
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A record of research excellence in neuroscience
With your help, SfN looks forward to building on BrainFacts’ success and continuing to share compelling stories of scientific discovery with audiences worldwide. Thank you for your participation in the search for the next Editor-in-Chief.
Sincerely,
The BrainFacts EiC Search Committee
P.S. On the fence? A reflection from outgoing EiC Richard Wingate may help:
“The role of EiC BrainFacts was a chance to work with a fantastic, professional editorial and writing team, and with an editorial board of peers all of whom were engaged in making brain science more accessible and relevant to our expanding audiences.”
