Dr. Tracy Teal named CEO of openRxiv, to lead the next phase in the evolution of open science

After an exhaustive, international search, the openRxiv Board of Directors has appointed Dr. Tracy Teal as the organization’s inaugural CEO. Dr Teal has served as interim COO of openRxiv since its launch as an independent non-profit in March of this year, playing a central role in launching the organization and establishing its stewardship of bioRxiv and medRxiv, two of the world’s most widely used preprint servers. 

Dr. John Inglis, co-founder of bioRxiv and medRxiv and Chair of openRxiv’s Science and Medical Advisory Board, noted that “Tracy’s appointment as CEO recognizes her exceptional contributions to openRxiv’s launch and early growth. Her obvious experience as a scientist, educator, fundraiser, and nonprofit leader has earned her the trust of the entire preprint team, and her character and skills make her uniquely qualified to guide openRxiv in advancing open science on a global scale.”

Speaking on behalf of openRxiv’s Board of Directors, Professor Harlan Krumholz, of Yale  University Medical School and a co-founder of medRxiv, said “This is an auspicious time for preprints and an exciting moment to transform medical publishing, and Tracy Teal is an exceptional choice to lead openRxiv. She is creative, collaborative, and deeply committed to open-source ecosystems, and she will propel the organization to new heights in serving scientists and the public.“

A Scientist First

Dr. Teal began her academic career studying cybernetics at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she developed a strong foundation in computer science and biology. She earned a Master’s in Biology from UCLA and her Ph.D. in Computation and Neural Systems from the California Institute of Technology, focusing on bioinformatics and the intersection of data science and biology.

Following her doctoral work, Dr. Teal joined the faculty at Michigan State University as an Assistant Professor in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. There, she combined her scientific expertise with an innovative approach to education, mentoring students and developing curricula that integrated computational tools into biological research. Her teaching and research reflected her belief that scientific progress depends on openness, collaboration, and equitable access to knowledge.

Leadership in Open Science and Nonprofits

While at Michigan State, Dr. Teal realized that being able to work effectively with data was going to be essential in biology and co-founded the non-profit Data Carpentry to help teach researchers foundational data and coding skills. In 2015, she secured funding for the organization and became the Executive Director. As the Executive Director of The Carpentries, she transformed a community-driven initiative into a sustainable, mission-driven organization that delivers data science and computational skills training to researchers in more than 60 countries. Under Dr. Teal’s leadership, The Carpentries expanded its reach, strengthened governance, developed a sustainable revenue and fundraising model, and deepened its commitment to inclusivity and community building. After 5 years with The Carpentries, she continued in open science and open source as Executive Director of Dryad and then as the Open Source Program Director at RStudio/Posit, where her leadership has had a global impact. 

Her commitment to open science has been evident throughout her career. She has served on advisory boards and working groups dedicated to reproducible research, open data sharing, and the adoption of best practices in scientific software development, efforts that align directly with openRxiv’s mission. 

Dr. Richard Sever, co-founder of bioRxiv and medRxiv and Chief Science and Strategy Officer at openRxiv, said that “Tracy brings a wealth of experience in open science and non-profit leadership to the openRxiv team. She understands the values that drive our work and will ensure we remain independent, sustainable, and committed to serving the scientific community.”

Commitment to Continuity 

Since joining openRxiv as Interim COO, Dr. Teal has worked closely with the leadership team, founders, and partners to ensure a successful launch and smooth transition from the preprint servers’ origins as a project of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to an independent non-profit organization. Her appointment as CEO reflects openRxiv’s commitment to its mission of open sharing of knowledge and accelerating the pace of scientific inquiry. Dr. Teal shared “I’m deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve the scientific community as CEO of openRxiv at such a pivotal moment for open science. I’m excited to build on the incredible foundation laid by the founders while expanding our impact on global scientific collaboration.”

Dr. Teal intends to strengthen the preprint platforms that more and more researchers worldwide rely on to share their work openly and rapidly. Plans include enhancing infrastructure, fostering interoperability with scholarly systems, and building partnerships that increase the reach and impact of preprints. As a scientist, an experienced executive, and an advocate for open, equitable science, Dr. Teal is well-positioned to lead openRxiv into its next chapter as a trusted, independent hub for global scientific exchange.