The London grapevine is once again buzzing with whispers that the ebullient Sir Richard Sykes is soon to step down as rector of Imperial College London. Yet no one can decide whether Imperial's deputy rector, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, will win the coveted title. Most assume he is being groomed for the top, but as one insider said: "Doesn't everyone know that the deputy never gets a job like this in the end?"