Who We Are

We’ve spent our careers working to make science better.

We bring organizations, sectors, and communities together to turn our experience into practical progress.

Meet Our Team
Meet Our Team

Our Story

The name came from a prompt we encountered during a conversation about organizational change.

Imagine you are an orca.

What is the boat you need to overturn in this system?

We laughed, but the question stuck with us. Not because we imagined ourselves as killer whales, but because it captured something we had been thinking about for years.  

We want science to reach more people and have a lasting impact on the decisions they make about their well-being. We want research to be trusted by communities and policymakers. We want scholarship to be transparent, optimized for interrogation, replication, and continued discovery. But the status quo often feels like it is drifting in the opposite direction, with incentives, norms, and infrastructure that push us farther out to sea.

We don't believe any one organization can overturn the systems that hold science back.  But we are confident that when researchers, institutions, funders, policymakers, and industry collaborate, meaningful progress is possible. ORCA exists to help bring these communities together, build unlikely coalitions, and create the conditions for science to better serve society. 

So the orca became our avatar for change. And the short answer? We also really like the acronym.

So the orca became our avatar for change. And the short answer? We also really like the acronym.

Meet Our Team

Meet the people behind ORCA. Our team brings together diverse experience, perspectives, and a shared commitment to making research more open and useful.

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Julieta Arancio

Senior Advisor

Julieta Arancio is a community organizer and social scientist based in Berlin, Germany. She works at the intersection of open science, open source, and science policy. Julieta holds a PhD in science and technology studies from Universidad Nacional de Quilmes (Argentina) and performed postdoctoral work at Drexel University (US) and University of Bath (UK). She has developed teaching projects at the Technical University Berlin and contributes to initiatives aiming to reform research assessment at the QUEST Center, BIH-Charité (Germany).

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Julieta Arancio

Senior Advisor

Julieta Arancio is a community organizer and social scientist based in Berlin, Germany. She works at the intersection of open science, open source, and science policy. Julieta holds a PhD in science and technology studies from Universidad Nacional de Quilmes (Argentina) and performed postdoctoral work at Drexel University (US) and University of Bath (UK). She has developed teaching projects at the Technical University Berlin and contributes to initiatives aiming to reform research assessment at the QUEST Center, BIH-Charité (Germany).

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Erin McKiernan

Director, Programs & Strategies

Erin McKiernan is an open science advocate and practitioner. She previously served as the Community Manager for the Open Research Funders Group (ORFG). Erin is also a neurophysiologist who has been a professor in the Department of Physics, Biomedical Physics Program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City since 2015. She has a B.A. in Psychology, and both a M.S. and PhD. in Physiological Sciences, all from the University of Arizona.

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Erin McKiernan

Director, Programs & Strategies

Erin McKiernan is an open science advocate and practitioner. She previously served as the Community Manager for the Open Research Funders Group (ORFG). Erin is also a neurophysiologist who has been a professor in the Department of Physics, Biomedical Physics Program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City since 2015. She has a B.A. in Psychology, and both a M.S. and PhD. in Physiological Sciences, all from the University of Arizona.

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Eunice Mercado-Lara

Director, Equity & Impact

Eunice Mercado-Lara has worked in the public and philanthropic sectors to advance equity and open research by developing suitable policies and enhancing funding programs. Eunice is a former Civic Science Fellow (2021- 2023) and has served as a board and committee member in several organizations and initiatives advocating for open scholarship practices. She holds a Master's Degree from McGill University and a B.A. from El Colegio de San Luis.

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Eunice Mercado-Lara

Director, Equity & Impact

Eunice Mercado-Lara has worked in the public and philanthropic sectors to advance equity and open research by developing suitable policies and enhancing funding programs. Eunice is a former Civic Science Fellow (2021- 2023) and has served as a board and committee member in several organizations and initiatives advocating for open scholarship practices. She holds a Master's Degree from McGill University and a B.A. from El Colegio de San Luis.

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Caitlin Schleicher

Director, Community & Partnerships

Caitlin Schleicher brings a deep commitment to open scholarship and community-driven change to her ORCA role. She previously served as Director of the Higher Education Leadership Initiative for Open Scholarship (HELIOS Open), where she led strategic planning and operational execution for over 100 college and university campuses working together to align open scholarship values and academic incentives. She has held positions at Johns Hopkins University in the medical library and in the president's office as a Scholarly Communication Informationist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Maryland – College Park.

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Caitlin Schleicher

Director, Community & Partnerships

Caitlin Schleicher brings a deep commitment to open scholarship and community-driven change to her ORCA role. She previously served as Director of the Higher Education Leadership Initiative for Open Scholarship (HELIOS Open), where she led strategic planning and operational execution for over 100 college and university campuses working together to align open scholarship values and academic incentives. She has held positions at Johns Hopkins University in the medical library and in the president's office as a Scholarly Communication Informationist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Maryland – College Park.

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Greg Tananbaum

Executive Director

Among his career highlights, Greg has had founding and senior leadership roles with Open Research Funders Group (ORFG); the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Roundtable on Aligning Incentives for Open Scholarship; the Higher Education Leadership Initiative for Open Scholarship (HELIOS Open); the Alliance for Open Scholarship (All4OS); and bepress. Greg holds a Master's Degree from the London School of Economics and a B.A. from Yale University.

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Greg Tananbaum

Executive Director

Among his career highlights, Greg has had founding and senior leadership roles with Open Research Funders Group (ORFG); the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Roundtable on Aligning Incentives for Open Scholarship; the Higher Education Leadership Initiative for Open Scholarship (HELIOS Open); the Alliance for Open Scholarship (All4OS); and bepress. Greg holds a Master's Degree from the London School of Economics and a B.A. from Yale University.

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A Special Thanks to Our Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board brings guidance, strategic oversight, and a shared commitment to ORCA’s mission, helping us remain accountable as we grow our impact.

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Denisse Albornoz

Denisse is a technology researcher and practitioner whose work promotes access to knowledge and technology from a justice and equity lens. She has worked with international research and nonprofit organizations to advance digital rights and knowledge equity, including the Centre for Internet and Society (India), Hiperderecho (Peru), Tactical Tech (Germany), and the Royal Society (UK). She is a Fellow at the Knowledge Equity Lab and is based at the Engine Room, focusing on community-centered research design and leadership.

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Denisse Albornoz

Denisse is a technology researcher and practitioner whose work promotes access to knowledge and technology from a justice and equity lens. She has worked with international research and nonprofit organizations to advance digital rights and knowledge equity, including the Centre for Internet and Society (India), Hiperderecho (Peru), Tactical Tech (Germany), and the Royal Society (UK). She is a Fellow at the Knowledge Equity Lab and is based at the Engine Room, focusing on community-centered research design and leadership.

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Kamran Naim

Dr. Kamran Naim is Head of Open Science at CERN, where he leads a portfolio of activities shaping the future of global open science practice. Before CERN, he worked in academic publishing and with international organizations including USAID, the US National Academies, and the World Bank, addressing global inequity in access to scientific information.

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Kamran Naim

Dr. Kamran Naim is Head of Open Science at CERN, where he leads a portfolio of activities shaping the future of global open science practice. Before CERN, he worked in academic publishing and with international organizations including USAID, the US National Academies, and the World Bank, addressing global inequity in access to scientific information.

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Joy Owango

Joy is the founding Director of the Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa), the first African-based centre teaching effective communication skills to scientists. Housed at and partnered with the University of Nairobi, TCC Africa builds African researchers' output and visibility through scholarly and science communication. Joy serves on the Steering Committee of the Research Organization Registry (ROR) and the International Science Council's project on the future of scientific publishing.

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Joy Owango

Joy is the founding Director of the Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa), the first African-based centre teaching effective communication skills to scientists. Housed at and partnered with the University of Nairobi, TCC Africa builds African researchers' output and visibility through scholarly and science communication. Joy serves on the Steering Committee of the Research Organization Registry (ROR) and the International Science Council's project on the future of scientific publishing.

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Esther Plomp

Esther is a Research Developer and Postdoc at the University of Aruba. She has served as a Data Steward (Delft University of Technology) and as an open science community member (The Turing Way, OLS, IsoArcH). Her expertise spans open science, research data management, and the FAIR principles. She studied Archaeology at Leiden University and holds a PhD in Isotope Archaeology.

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Esther Plomp

Esther is a Research Developer and Postdoc at the University of Aruba. She has served as a Data Steward (Delft University of Technology) and as an open science community member (The Turing Way, OLS, IsoArcH). Her expertise spans open science, research data management, and the FAIR principles. She studied Archaeology at Leiden University and holds a PhD in Isotope Archaeology.

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Dawid Potgieter

Dawid consults for philanthropic and research organizations, focusing on the intersection of scientific research and organizational management, with a keen interest in equitable revenue models. Hands-on from strategy to execution, he has developed and managed high-stakes research portfolios featured in the Financial Times, the Economist, and Bloomberg. He holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford and an MBA from the University of Cambridge.

I'm unable to provide a detailed description of the person in this photo. However, if you need help with a particular concept or have other queries, feel free to ask!

Dawid Potgieter

Dawid consults for philanthropic and research organizations, focusing on the intersection of scientific research and organizational management, with a keen interest in equitable revenue models. Hands-on from strategy to execution, he has developed and managed high-stakes research portfolios featured in the Financial Times, the Economist, and Bloomberg. He holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford and an MBA from the University of Cambridge.

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Jylana Sheats

Jylana L. Sheats, PhD, MPH, is an applied behavioral scientist and Clinical Associate Professor at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. A self-described boundary spanner, she leads and advises on cross-sector research aimed at changing behaviors, improving health outcomes, and addressing society's most wicked problems. As Associate Director of the Aspen Institute Science & Society Program, she advocates for global science, public trust in science, and social justice.

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Jylana Sheats

Jylana L. Sheats, PhD, MPH, is an applied behavioral scientist and Clinical Associate Professor at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. A self-described boundary spanner, she leads and advises on cross-sector research aimed at changing behaviors, improving health outcomes, and addressing society's most wicked problems. As Associate Director of the Aspen Institute Science & Society Program, she advocates for global science, public trust in science, and social justice.

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Rita Teutonico

Dr. Rita Teutonico is Dean of Research for the College of Arts, Sciences & Education at Florida International University, where she leads a Research Development office supporting more than $100M in competitive proposals annually. She previously served as State Director for Utah EPSCoR and spent more than 12 years at the National Science Foundation in senior roles leading cross-agency initiatives. She holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. from Cornell University.

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Rita Teutonico

Dr. Rita Teutonico is Dean of Research for the College of Arts, Sciences & Education at Florida International University, where she leads a Research Development office supporting more than $100M in competitive proposals annually. She previously served as State Director for Utah EPSCoR and spent more than 12 years at the National Science Foundation in senior roles leading cross-agency initiatives. She holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. from Cornell University.

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