Nicole Elleuche, Ph.D., is the Managing and Administrative Director of the European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Facility GmbH (European XFEL). She oversees a diverse team of 500 professionals from 60 countries, managing a 150-million-euro budget. Nicole’s background includes executive board roles at the Hamburg Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology and as a scientific advisor for the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations in Geneva. With a strong scientific foundation as a Microbiologist from the University of Bochum and postdoctoral experience in the USA, she also holds an MBA in Science and Research Management and an IESE Business School Certificate from the High-Performance Board Member Program. Nicole actively serves on various advisory and review boards, demonstrating her commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation.