You can create space for your science with a website for your research and academic life. Cecilia Baldoni, PhD’s academic website is great example that your online space can include a lot of things (when you want it to). And, you can make that space feel like you.
Cecilia Baldoni, PhD is a researcher who values open science. She knows that open science can be more than a policy ideal, there are practices we can implement to help more people. Read her bio.
Hi there, I’m Jennifer van Alstyne. Dr. Cecilia Baldoni joins me on The Social Academic podcast to talk about creating her researcher website, which won an award in the Best Personal Academic Websites Contest 2025.
Mentioned in this episode
This episode was recorded and broadcast live on Tuesday, April 14. You can watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram. A full transcript will be added to this blog post when it’s been fully reviewed by a human. Thank you!
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Quotes
Publish your website
“if you’re working on a website, just put it out because it’s never going to be finished.”
Reactions to her website
“GitHub feels very open and feels like everybody’s out there because it’s public… nobody’s out there judging you. Actually the only interaction I had about this website were overly positive and it’s like a boost in self-esteem as well.”
You don’t have to wait
“For students, what I say: if you think deep enough, you will find so many things that you can add that are unique to you.”
Cecilia shared these questions for students to consider when creating their scientist website:
- What is your contribution that it’s not only a publication?
- Did you present something even with your friends or in your lab and your lab meeting? What was it about?
- What’s your thesis on?
- What is your interest?
- What’s your point of view of things?
- What’s your week like?
- What is like in your lab? How does that work?
Cecilia Baldoni, PhD
Cecilia Baldoni is a researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour in Konstanz, Germany, where she investigates how brain structures and environment shape animal cognition. Her current work focuses on the cognitive adaptations of the common shrew, a model species for studying brain‑size plasticity and behavioral flexibility.
Alongside her research, she leads community operations and open science initiatives aimed at transforming open science from a policy ideal into a practical, everyday workflow. Her work sits at the intersection of research, technical infrastructure, and community leadership. She is an experienced workshop facilitator committed to making complex ideas accessible and connecting researchers across disciplines.
She is also an active member of R‑Ladies, contributing to a global community that supports gender diversity in programming and data science.
The next contest opens for entries in early June 2026. Sign up for an email to your inbox when the Best Personal Academic Websites Contest goes live.
Subscribe to The Social Academic blog.
The form above subscribes you to new posts published on The Social Academic blog.
Want emails from Jennifer on building your online presence? Subscribe to her email list.
Looking for the podcast? Subscribe on Spotify.
Prefer to watch videos? Subscribe on YouTube.
