I assumed at first due to the URL's appearance that this was an effort put together by GitHub, Inc. Makes me wonder how many other Github Pages sites out there are similarly confusing (or intentionally misleading - it looks like careers.github.com is available, for example).
I like the idea of being connected to a scientist...other kinds of researchers, including journalists, would also have interesting projects to work on, particularly involving overlooked datasets.<p>But yeah, the stock photography should be changed...it's not mediocre, it's just detrimental to the point of discrediting the overall project. Just use icons that can serve as symbols...such as a glass beaker for science.