Holden Thorp is to be the new editor-in-chief of Science and its family of journals, ScienceInsider reports.
Thorp previously served as provost at Washington University in St. Louis, where ScienceInsider says he focused on bolstering interdisciplinary research and entrepreneurship as well as pushed to increase diversity. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch adds that Thorp also was chancellor of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and co-founded Viamet Pharmaceuticals.
While Thorp led UNC-Chapel Hill, ScienceInsider notes that the school was roiled by allegations that students, particularly athletes, were allowed to enroll in classes that had little faculty oversight. Thorp tells it that that was a learning experience that he'll bring to Science, especially the lesson of getting information out quickly.
He adds at ScienceInsider that he plans continue the journals' focus on reproducibility and encouragement of submissions from researchers at a range of institutions.
"Holden is a terrific choice for the new editor-in-chief," Margaret Hamburg, chair of the AAAS Board of Directors and the search committee, says in a statement. "Among many impressive attributes, he will bring a keen intellect, a passion for science, strong communication skills and broad experience as a top-flight research scientist, academic leader, administrator of scientific organizations and entrepreneur."
Thorp will take over the editor-in-chief role in late October, according to the Post-Dispatch. He takes over from Jeremy Berg, who has been there since 2016.