Is eLife Editor Michael Eisen Fired? Why Was Michael Eisen Fired?
by Ayisha
Updated Oct 26, 2023
Is eLife Editor Michael Eisen Fired?
Prominent scientist and eLife editor Michael Eisen was recently fired from his position. The decision came after he endorsed a satirical article on social media that expressed sympathy for Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. This move sparked a debate about freedom of speech in the scientific community, with some supporting his dismissal and others criticizing it, and even some editors and advisers resigning in protest.
The firing also raised questions about the boundaries of expressing opinions on social media when science and politics collide, as well as the role of academic journal editors and their right to academic freedom. Eisen, known for advocating open science and taking on powerful institutions, had a history of controversial posts on social media, but this particular incident led to his removal as the editor-in-chief of eLife. Some argued that it was within the rights of the private nonprofit organization to make this decision, while others expressed concerns about the potential impact on freedom of speech and the need for open discourse in the scientific community.
Who is Michael Eisen?
Michael Eisen is a prominent figure in the field of science and biology. He is an American computational biologist and a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in genetics, genomics, and development. Known for his advocacy of open-access scientific publishing, he co-founded the Public Library of Science (PLOS) and played a vital role in promoting open access to scientific research. Besides his contributions to the scientific community, Eisen also ventured into politics by running for the U.S. Senate from California as an Independent candidate in 2018.
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Michael Eisen Early Life
Michael Eisen's early life was marked by a family deeply rooted in the world of science. Born in Boston, he grew up with a grandfather who was an X-ray crystallographer, a father who was a physician, and a mother who worked as a biochemist. When he was just four or five years old, his family moved to Bethesda, Maryland, and during summers, he and his brother spent time with their grandparents in Long Island.
Michael's childhood interests included a fascination with frogs and salamanders, as well as a strong affinity for math, which led him to become the captain of the high school math team. He graduated from Walt Whitman High School in 1985, and although he initially considered majoring in mathematics at Harvard University, he later decided to pursue biology and biophysics after realizing the presence of more brilliant math students at Harvard.
His educational journey took him to Harvard, where he worked on understanding the three-dimensional structures of proteins and had his perspective on biology transformed by the introduction of DNA microarrays. In his academic pursuits, Michael Eisen completed his doctorate at Harvard University in biophysics and earned a B.S. in Mathematics from the same institution. His research focused on Influenza A virus proteins and involved working under the supervision of Don Craig Wiley.
Michael Eisen Education
Michael Eisen's education has been a crucial foundation for his successful career in the field of biology and computational biology. He completed his doctorate at Harvard University, specializing in biophysics, and obtained a B.S. in Mathematics from the same prestigious institution.
During his time at Harvard, Eisen focused on understanding the three-dimensional structures of proteins, a fundamental aspect of biology. His early academic journey was marked by a pivotal shift from mathematics to biology, driven by a desire to explore and contribute to the world of science.
Following his doctoral studies, Eisen further expanded his knowledge and expertise through a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University. In this phase of his education and research, he made significant contributions to the field by developing a method for interpreting gene expression data from microarrays. This work not only demonstrated his commitment to advancing scientific understanding but also earned substantial recognition, with the research publication being cited over 16,000 times.
Michael Eisen Twitter
Why Was Michael Eisen Fired?
Michael Eisen, the editor-in-chief of the prominent science journal eLife, was fired due to his endorsement of a satirical article on social media expressing sympathy for Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict. This endorsement caused significant controversy, with some people finding his comments offensive and lacking empathy for Israeli civilians affected by the conflict.
As a result, eLife's governing board, representing its founding funders, decided to remove him from his position, citing his approach to leadership, communication, and social media as detrimental to the community they aimed to build. The decision to fire Eisen led to debates about freedom of speech within the scientific community, with some supporting the move and others opposing it. The incident raised concerns about the boundaries of expressing opinions on social media, especially when science and politics intersect.
Is eLife Editor Michael Eisen Fired? - FAQs
Michael Eisen was fired for endorsing a satirical article expressing sympathy for Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict on social media.
It sparked a debate about freedom of speech and the boundaries of expressing opinions on social media, dividing opinions among scientists.
He was known for advocating open science, taking on powerful institutions, and co-founding the Public Library of Science (PLOS).
They resigned to express their concerns about academic freedom and the potential stifling of open discourse in the scientific community.
The board cited his approach to leadership, communication, and social media as being detrimental to the community they were trying to build.