Academic-coordination roles can be even harder to sell on a CV than teaching responsibilities (see Nature doi.org/b7gn; 2017). These include activities such as mentoring students; organizing research projects, meetings, workshops and talks; managing data; and running a lab group's websites and social media — all of which steal crucial time away from research.

Paradoxically, it therefore pays the coordinator (typically a female or early-career scientist, who may already be at a disadvantage compared with their peers) to put their research career first and to spend as little time as possible on 'unprofitable' coordinating tasks. This renders a disservice to students, outreach and, ultimately, research itself.

The problem lies in academia undervaluing such skills and non-research-related responsibilities. In our view, these contributions should be recognized on a par with publications and winning grants, and as an advantage — not a disadvantage — to a research career.