Mission
Our mission is to provide training for the next generation of researchers and research leaders so that they can build and develop research groups that value and promote excellence and kindness in the pursuit of impact.
Current challenges in academia
Kindness, compassion, and empathy are not terms that come to mind first when thinking about academia. Academia is often viewed as competitive, challenging, and uncertain. It may manifest as pursuit of individual success, over the achievement of the research group, or a bigger research mission. Between research groups, competition is often chosen over collaboration because of egos that stand in the way of opportunity (for the group) or scientific advancement of the field. Structurally, academia has limited job security. When you work on a project, you must often find money for the next project at the same time, which can be mentally challenging. Academia can also be a place that lacks inclusivity and equity regarding important societal issues such as diversity. The result is that many are leaving academia to work elsewhere, that is, the big leave [1]. Key factors associated with intent-to-leave include low perceived organizational support, high exhaustion, and low compassion satisfaction [1]. While kindness, compassion, and empathy may not completely solve the problem of competent people leaving academia, such values may support well-being among researchers and improve the retention and sustainability of academia. For us, kindness, compassion, and empathy are pivotal values that drive healthy research culture. They are a special type of strength—the type of strength required for excellence.
The future of academia
Based on the above, it may seem strange that one loves to work in academia, but we do. We love to work with knowledge and create changes. An essential part of this work involves training younger researchers, who may eventually become supervisors and research leaders themselves. A sustainable future for younger researchers is one with as few toxic research environments as possible, and as many excellent and kind research environments as possible. We want to raise awareness and catalyze the change towards excellence and kindness in research training. We want to promote a culture of researchers and research leaders who are excellent in terms of both classical and new metrics, but not at the expense of integrity, kindness, compassion, and empathy. We recognize that we may not transform academia entirely, but our initiative serves as our contribution, exemplifying our values and guiding principles.
We propose a collaborative training network initiative
We have established a collaborative training network initiative named "Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS)." We provide high-quality research training and knowledge sharing that is rigorous, comprehensive, and up-to-date, while also being supportive, respectful, and compassionate. We organize educational activities in research training that range from clinical research methodology to emotional aspects of research leadership and new developments within scientific conduct. For all activities, we take great pride in creating a collaborative learning environment of excellence and kindness.
The Excellence and Kindness in Research Training initiative was founded by Professor Thomas Bandholm, Professor Julie Midtgaard, and Professor Michael Skovdal Rathleff who share the values below and aspirations for the future of academia. It is a collaborative framework and culture community between Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Research – Copenhagen (PMR-C) at Amager and Hvidovre Hospital, The Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health Care (CARMEN), Psychiatric Center Glostrup, and the Center for General Practice at Aalborg University (CAM AAU), and the Department of Health Science and Technology at Aalborg University led by the three founders. This collaboration is the basis for our activities. Some activities run ad hoc, and some run regularly as part of formal research training programs (e.g., PhD courses).
The Excellence and Kindness in Research Training initiative is inspired by the “Kindness in Science" initiative in New Zealand [2] and the #MentorFirst Initiative in the USA [3]. We want to complement these great initiatives by focusing on the research training activities that we are part of in Denmark.
What we value
Culture is shaped by values and guiding principles. To foster a research culture that prioritizes excellence and kindness, nurturing key values and guiding principles is important. The values and guiding principles below are key to the ELIS initiative and community. They are values and guiding principles we believe firmly in and try very hard to live—not values and guiding principles that we have adopted because they may be considered “politically correct." We are not dismissive of other perspectives or people with other values. We welcome these respectful discussions. We welcome them because they help challenge our beliefs and guard against confirmation bias. The values and guiding principles outlined below are not static. They may change over time as we learn and grow as researchers and research leaders. If you feel that we do not live these values, please let us know.
We pursue excellence, but not at the expense of kindness
We provide mentorship and support—not leadership by force
We show and promote transparency in research and leadership
We discuss what excellence and kindness means for our activities
We ensure all voices are heard and valued during discussions.
We believe diversity and inclusion are important for wellbeing and success
We talk about excellence and kindness in research training when given the chance
We focus on collective success more than personal success
We seek collaboration over resistance and unhealthy competition
We view vulnerability as courage—not weakness or imperfection
Get involved and help spread the word (ELIS)
We aim to be inclusive and do our best to support others who are inspired by ELIS and share our vision for academia. Below, we have listed some common questions we receive, along with our corresponding answers.
How can I join ELIS?
Everyone can join ELIS. We just ask that you reflect on what ELIS is for you and how you want to live it. We call this #ELIS4me when you write as an individual, or #ELIS4us when you write as a group, institution, or some other unit. We kindly ask that you write it down and send it to us in case you or your group/institution/unit want to be named at the ELIS website as endorser of ELIS. Over time, we will have an inspirational catalogue on the ELIS website of different peoples' thoughts about ELIS and how they want to live it.
Please send your #ELIS4me or #ELIS4us statement to thomas.quaade.bandholm@regionh.dk
with “#ELIS4us” in the subject line. Please find #ELIS4me and #ELIS4us statements from people, groups, or institutions who have joined ELIS at the bottom of this page."
Can I use the logo?
Yes, you are free to use the logos and resources from our webpage if you decide to join the ELIS community. We kindly ask that any use of the logo includes a link to the ELIS URL for further reading. Additionally, if you use the logo, we highly recommend making an #ELIS4me or #ELIS4us statement, as outlined above, to enhance credibility.
What are the benefits of joining ELIS?
Joining ELIS should not be about personal gain or virtue signaling on your website. It should be about actively living, promoting, and protecting excellence and kindness in academia for the greater good. This includes engaging in respectful conversations with those holding opposing views. By making an #ELIS4me or #ELIS4us statement and being recognized as an ELIS endorser, you contribute significantly to our vision. This commitment involves not only advocating our principles but also listening and offering support to researchers who feel their experiences deviate from our ideals.
Download logo:
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Example of text that may accompany the ELIS logo
This event/activity/entity is committed to Excellence and Kindness in Research Training.
Endorsements
The Excellence and Kindness in Research Training initiative is endorsed by the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen and the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology at the University of Aalborg.
Definitions*
We understand kindness, excellence, and research training as outlined below.
Kindness: Being generous, helpful, and caring about other people, or an act showing this quality. Kindness comes from self-respect and respect for others. This means that kindness does not equate to being used as a doormat. Setting healthy boundaries while still approaching interactions with empathy and compassion is important.
Excellence: Being outstanding or extremely good.
Research training: Activities designed to equip researchers with the knowledge, skills, and ethical understanding required to conduct clinical research studies as valued members or leaders of a research team.
*Based on a combination of Oxford Languages, Deep Kindness by Houston Craft, Crucial Conversations by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Emily Gregory, as well as personal experience and opinion.
References
Schmiedehaus E, Cordaro M, Perrotte J, Stern M, Dailey S, Howard K (2023). The great resignation in higher education: An occupational health approach to understanding intentions-to-quit for faculty in higher education. Teaching and Teacher Education 123: 103992.
https://www.kindnessinscience.org/
https://mentorfirst.org/
ELIS-activities and outputs
Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) Talk and workshop, University of Southern Denmark (SDU Research Academy for next-generation research leaders, November 11th, 2025.
Paper published about Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) entitled: "Fagligt stærke og medmenneskelige forskningsmiljøer - perspektiver indefra og udefra af". Af Thomas Bandholm, Julie Midtgaard, Michael Rathleff og Amanda Houmark-Ørsøe, 2025. (In Danish). Read the article in English as well: "Excellent and kind research environments perspectives from within and beyond".
Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) Talk, Off campus seminar for Heads of Graduate PhD Programmes at Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, August 28th, 2025.
Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) Talk and workshop, University of Copenhagen Talent Programme for Excellence in Research (UCPH Forward) seminar, September 9th, 2025.
ELIS is mentioned in the scientific paper "Kindness as a public health action" published by Tri-Long Nguyen and Ji-Young Lee in Communications Medicine 5; article number 122 (2025):
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-025-00861-3
Interview about ELIS in Aalborg University AAU Update, February 2nd, 2025
Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) Talk and #ELIS4us process start, Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg – Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, January 8th, 2025.
ELIS is mentioned in Rector Henrik Caspar Wegener's Christmas Greeting video to the University of Copenhagen as a culture code that is important to remember: https://video.ku.dk/video/107737003/rektors-juletale-2024-1
Interview about ELIS in the ScienceReport, November 28, 2024: https://sciencereport.dk/samfund/venlighed-er-en-mangelvare-nyt-initiativ-hjaelper-forskningsmiljoeer-med-at-tegne-en-moralsk-graense/
Graduate PhD Programme MUSKOS: Basic and Clinical Research in Musculoskeletal Sciences at the University of Copenhagen officially committed to ELIS, www.phd-musculokeletal.ku.dk in 2024.
Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) Talk, Staff-meeting (HR-stormøde) for the Division of Human Resources, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen, September 27th, 2024.
Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) Talk and #ELIS4us process start, Parker Institute, Bispebjerg – Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, August 29th, 2024.
Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) Talk and #ELIS4us process start, Pulmonary Research Unit Zealand (PLUZ), Department of Medicine, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde & Naestved, Naestved Hospital.
Interview about ELIS in the University Post, University of Copenhagen, June 27th, 2024: https://uniavisen.dk/nyt-initiativ-venlighed-skal-vaere-noegleord-i-god-forskningskultur/
Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) Talk, Staff-meeting at the MSc-education in Health Sciences (Cand.Scient.San.), University of Copenhagen, May 30th, 2024.
ELIS-webinar “Elsk din konflikt/Love your conflict" by conclict negotiator and priest Henriette Rosendal, May 7th, 2024.
Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) Talk and ELIS Aalborg-kickoff, Aalborg University, April 8th, 2024.
Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS) Supervisor's Talk and ELIS Copenhagen-kickoff, University of Copenhagen, March 14th, 2024.
#ELIS4me/us
- statements from people who have joined ELIS
#ELIS4me: Kathrin Rousk, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
I strive to lead enthusiastically and passionately, and to do solid and exciting research. Curiosity is one of my core values, alongside kindness, integrity, respect, trust, fairness, and generosity. I believe that generosity creates a trusting environment that enables others to grow. ELIS represents this. I am so glad about initiatives that value kindness and generosity in academia.
#ELIS4me: Yong E Zhang, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
To me, ELIS represents a commitment to:
1) Treating every individual with equality and respect, regardless of their role, personality, gender, race, etc;
2) Ensuring fairness and justice in all aspects of research, including authorship and recognition.
3) Cultivating an environment where open-mindedness, active listening, and cultural humility are prioritized over prejudice or arrogance.
I believe that such a supportive and diverse environment is essential not only for the health of research groups but also for the broader advancement of academia and society.
#ELIS4us: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Research - Copenhagen (PMR-C), Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, and Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager and Hvidovre.
At PMR-C, we strive to enhance rehabilitation healthcare through excellence in research, teaching, clinical practice, and especially mentoring and research training. We show up, work hard, take the high road, and display kindness. Integrity, humility, and propriety are key com-ponents of our culture. We actively promote these culture components, and we recruit talent based on them.
Our work is grounded in transparency and the belief that knowledge grows when shared freely. We challenge norms, nurture diverse perspectives, and celebrate the value of respect-ful debate to avoid groupthink (echo-chamber thinking). When we debate, we argue like we are right but listen actively and curiously like we are wrong. We see mistakes as opportunities for growth and cultivate a culture open to experimentation and creativity. We are always learning.
We prioritize collective success, believing that helping others strengthens PMR-C because it is hard to beat collective intelligence and community. Relationships and trust are built through meaningful in-person interactions, creating a foundation for collaboration and shared achievements. We believe in collaboration over unhealthy competition.
#ELIS4me: Tri-Long Nguyen, Associate Professor, Section for Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
To practice kindness in our daily lives is to make a public health action with an immediate and tangible impact every day, which goes beyond our intellectual work. For me, ELIS is about nurturing a most-needed culture of kindness in the academic and healthcare spheres, such that the upcoming generation realizes that they have much more to offer to their patients, colleagues, and relatives, than just grades, H-index, or number of publications. Kindness is more than merely a social virtue in the moral sense: it is an effective path towards enhancing resilience of our healthcare systems, which is immediately available to, for, and within every one of us .
#ELIS4me: Gritt Overbeck, Associate Professor, Centre for General Practice: The Section of General Practice Medicine and The Research for General Practice, Department og Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
For me, ELIS is about sustainability. Therefore, ELIS4me is also about the generational contract: With a deficit of kindness, we sustain the hierarchies in academia, which can sometimes resemble a pyramid scheme where young researchers toil while senior researchers reap the rewards. ELIS4me is, therefore, largely about raising awareness among young researchers about their rights to their own work and the opportunities avaible to them. One day, they will "take over the shop", and they need both merits and recognition to be able to do so.
#ELIS4us: Center for Anvendt Forskning i Mental Sundhed (CARMEN), Region Hovedstadens Psykiatri
Vi værdsætter følelsen af og stræber efter at være et hold. Vi hjælper hinanden det bedste, vi kan, så trivsel for alle på holdet er muligt, også når det brænder på. Vi engagerer os i hinandens arbejde, og interesserer os desuden for hinandens liv undenfor arbejdet.
Vi værdsætter, at vi er forskelllige - fagligt som personligt- og forsøger at give plads til, at vi kan indrette og udtrykke os på hver vores måde. Og selvom vi er et hold, hylder vi individuelle succeser og opmuntrer hinanden til at forfølge individuelle ambitioner.
Vi forsøger ikke at lade os blænde af, at resultatet af vores arbejde altid skal være perfekt. Men vi forsøger altid a gøre os umage i processen, så vi kan være stolte af vores arbejde, og andre kan og vil bruge vores resultater.
Ingen af os bilder os ind, at vi ved det hele eller ved bedst. Vi spørger hyppigt hinanden til råds, og vi gør en dyd ud af at stille kritiske spørgsmål til hinandens arbejde og ideer. Vi forsøger så vidt muligt at bygge bro til andre grupper og samarbejde med eksperter udefra. Sådan mener vi, at vi opnår de bedste resultater og lærer mest.
#ELIS4us: The “Musculoskeletal Health and Implementation" research group at Aalborg University
We strive to create an environment where everyone supports each other in reaching new heights, insights, and goals – both in research and in our professional, as well as personal development. Our group philosophy is built on three core pillars: (1) Collective Development; We believe that the best research comes from working together as a team. Through open dialogues and collaborations, we create a strong foundation where ideas can be challenged, flourish, and shared. Each researcher's strengths, character, and unique skills contribute to our collective success and direction, (2) Mentorship for the Next Generation; Our responsibility is to be strong mentors for the next generation of researchers to ensure a sustainable future for research. We prioritize time and resources to guide and support each other, colleagues and students, ensuring they receive the support and knowledge they need to grow, and (3) Innovation and Curiosity; As a group, we embrace innovation and foster curiosity about new methods, approaches, and technologies. We actively seek interdisciplinary collaborations, believing that the intersection of different fields can lead to groundbreaking insights and solutions. This mindset drives our research forward and keeps us at the forefront of our field.
We are committed to #ELIS4us where these core pillars are expressed through our six commitments to each other: (1) We work with kindness, respect, and collaboration, valuing both teamwork and individual autonomy, (2) We create a safe and inclusive space where all voices are heard and valued, (3) We support the next generation of researchers by investing time and energy in mentoring, (4) We prioritize both personal well-being and professional excellence, (5) We welcome innovation and new ideas with curiosity and an open mind, (6) We are committed to mission-driven research with societal impact.
#ELIS4me: Michael Skovdal Rathleff, Professor, Center for General Practice at Aalborg University (CAM AAU) and the Department of Health Science and Technology at Aalborg University
For me, ELIS is about creating a culture where kindness, collaboration, and mutual support unlock the full potential of each individual and our research group as a whole. I believe that the way we treat each other is fundamental to driving personal and collective growth, fostering innovation, and achieving excellence.
My mission is to build platforms where people can develop and collaborate to create more impact together than they could alone. By prioritizing culture and investing in each other, we cultivate an environment where ideas can flourish, talents are nurtured, and everyone feels empowered to contribute.
I also recognize that I am not perfect, and I don't always live up to these ideals. For me, a good culture is one where we acknowledge our imperfections, hold each other accountable, and create space for honest feedback. It's about trying our best, learning from our mistakes, and supporting each other in becoming better – both as individuals and as a group.
The "why" that drives me is the conviction that culture is the cornerstone of success and excellence. When we focus on creating a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment – one that embraces imperfection and growth – we enable everyone to reach new heights and achieve more than they ever imagined possible.
#ELIS4us: Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
By Professor Rikke Buhl, Head of Graduate School
#ELIS4us at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences aligns with our vision to provide world-class research training where high research ambitions, wellbeing, and a strong community feeling among our students and faculty are core elements. We know that feeling a sense of belonging within a research community is essential for successfully completing a PhD, and in the last couple of years we have made several initiatives to enhance this process. This includes onboarding courses for new PhD students, coaching sessions, PhD supervisor courses with a focus on crossing generation gaps, and redefining the role of the PhD coordinators to make them more active participators in the social lives at the workplace of our students. We will keep working on enhancing the wellbeing and community feeling for our students, and therefore we are happy to be part of the ELIS initiative.
#ELIS4us: The Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology of the Faculty of Medicine at Aalborg University
By Professor Pascal Madeleine, PhD, DSc, Head of the Doctoral School
The Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology of the Faculty of Medicine at Aalborg University endorses the recommendations of the Excellence and Kindness in Research Training (ELIS). Being engaged on a PhD journey requires a lot from PhD student. Beside the high scientific expectations, you must have perseverance, work hard, have a bit of luck, and develop several other skills. Research is done in teams, but the PhD student is the principal investigator of his/her PhD project. For all these reasons, it is necessary to have a safe and supportive working environment. So do not hesitate to reach out to the Doctoral School. Excellence and kindness in research may be seen as antinomic but there is no world-class performance in bad environment. For these reasons, we – the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology do all our possible to provide our PhD students and their supervisors with recommendations and advice promoting working environment in research.
#ELIS4me: Julie Midtgaard Klausen, Professor, Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health Care (CARMEN), Psychiatric Center Glostrup
#ELIS4me is about insisting that you don't need to be tough to be good. It's about celebrating the pursuit of perfection while addressing the risk of promoting feelings of never being good enough. It's about paving the way for personal grow while measuring success by the degree to which people feel like part of the team. Also, #ELIS4me is about creating psychological safety, so no one—regardless of career stage—should fear expressing uncertainty. It should be safe to be unsure. Last but not least, #ELIS4me is about being mindful of language and behavior that undermine diversity.
#ELIS4me: Thomas Bandholm Professor, PhD, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research - Copenhagen (PMR-C) .
#ELIS4me represents being a valued member of a research team where skilled individuals breathe encouragement into my plans and ideals. This team consistently follows through and pursues excellence, emphasizing the balance between personal and team success as an important cultural-code component. It's a place where trust allows us to share our challenges openly and where active listening takes precedence over commanding.
As an experienced researcher, I understand that my learning journey is ongoing, and I appreciate gaining insights from those more knowledgeable than myself. I especially value individuals who embody both excellence and kindness, and I make it a priority to seek out and nurture relationships with such people.
Lastly, #ELIS4me is about honesty and transparency. When misbehavior occurs, the kindest approach is to address it respectfully, fostering a culture of constructive feedback.
#ELIS4us: Graduate PhD Programme MUSKOS, University of Copenhagen
By Thomas Bandholm, Programme Head.
#ELIS4us for MUSKOS is about world-class PhD research training within the musculoskeletal sciences, that is, world-class when it comes to science as well as culture. We promote the ELIS culture and encourage contributions for collective benefit. Our PhD-students enroll with MUSKOS but have their every day life with different research groups. #ELIS4us is creating a sense of community around research training that is crystal clear no matter which research group a student is part of. We call this: “Different groups – same programme: #MUSKOS".
#ELIS4me, Mike Young, founder of Mike Young Academy
"#ELIS4me is a call to action for the whole scientific community, and it is in line with what I hope to achieve with my own communication workshops and social media training. When scientists communicate with, network with, and collaborate with others on social media it should be in the spirit of this initiative: It is not about self-promotion, but about helping a collective scientific endeavor."
#ELIS4me: Robin Christensen, Professor, The Parker Institute, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg Frederiksberg.
My role as a senior biostatistician and professor emphasizes collaboration, ongoing learning, and the nurturing of a supportive research community. I value transparency, ethical practices, and a focus on meaningful, answerable questions. In alignment with #ELIS4me, I prioritize fostering a culture where kindness, respect, and constructive feedback are central to our collective success.
I am a strong advocate of the 'UNBOSS initiative,' an approach that challenges traditional hierarchical models and fosters a more collaborative, purpose-driven, and empowering organizational culture. Together we can transform our organizational practices to create more dynamic, inclusive, and purpose-driven organizations that thrive in a complex, rapidly changing world.
#ELIS4me: Kim Gordon Ingwersen, Associate Professor, Research Unit in Physio - and Occupational Therapy at University Hospital Lillebaelt – Vejle Hospital and Department of Regional Health Research at University of Southern Denmark
As a practicing clinician and researcher, I navigate two distinct worlds daily. In clinical practice, being present, caring, empathetic, and an attentive listener are essential for building a strong patient-provider alliance while effectively guiding patients. In my role as a researcher, I strive to embody these same qualities as a supervisor and collaborator, despite the traditionally hierarchical and competitive nature of academia. I see #ELIS4me as a natural reflection of this.
I firmly believe in a flat organizational structure where we elevate each other through collaboration and mutual respect. To me, quality is not defined by the quantity of publications but by the value they contribute—whether through the impact of their message or the learning journey they represent. I view the process as an opportunity for growth and skill development, rather than a pursuit of academic titles.
My goal is to create a healthy, inspiring, and inclusive learning and research environment where both personal and professional development can thrive.