European XFEL Will Appoint New Scientific Directors
The research organization announced leadership shifts for its management board starting in 2027.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in People
The European XFEL Council has appointed Elke Plönjes-Palm and Jakub Szlachetko to serve as scientific directors starting January 1, 2027. They will replace outgoing founding directors Serguei Molodtsov and Thomas Tschentscher on the organization's management board.
Why it matters
This reorganization reflects a strategic realignment intended to better address evolving user needs and changing scientific requirements within the research community. The transition marks the departure of the final founding directors from the board.
The restructured management board will consist of five members to oversee future operations. The incoming director Jakub Szlachetko brings 20 years of international experience in the field to the position.
The players
Elke Plönjes-Palm
She is an incoming scientific director who previously served as a group leader of Beamlines and Optics at FLASH at DESY.
Jakub Szlachetko
He is an incoming scientific director and current head of the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre in Kraków, Poland.
European XFEL
This is an international research organization based in Germany that operates a large-scale X-ray laser facility.
Serguei Molodtsov
He is a founding director of the organization who is stepping down from the Management Board.
Thomas Tschentscher
He is a founding director of the organization who is stepping down from the Management Board.
The details
Elke Plönjes-Palm, formerly of the FLASH at DESY center, will oversee Development and Instrumentation. Jakub Szlachetko, currently the director of the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre, will manage Operations and Data.
Timeline
January 1, 2027: New scientific directors begin their roles.
Market Landscape
The reorganization of the European XFEL Management Board signifies a generational shift in leadership for the major international facility. This move allows the organization to transition away from its original founding governance structure to one focused on evolving user requirements.
The leadership change is an internal corporate matter that will not result in immediate service or access changes for current users. Stakeholders can expect continued operations as the facility integrates the new directors into its management team.
The takeaway
Large research organizations often undergo significant management restructuring to align with the changing technological landscape of their field. Planning for leadership succession well in advance ensures institutional stability as foundational members move into new roles.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership transitions, visit the People section.
More information
View the full announcement on the European XFEL official news page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Informationdienst Wissenschaft e.V. - idw.
