This chapter examines when, where, and by whom time is created and how these processes subtly govern researchers’ lives and ways of knowing. It investigates the key sites where binding temporal requirements and regulations—referred to as time generators—are established. At the core of the chapter are three interwoven time generators shaping academic research: the research project, the career trajectory as reflected in CVs, and the processes and forms of accountability. The chapter also delves into two overarching temporal phenomena that intersect these generators: the pervasive presence of planning and anticipation in academic research and the critical role of rhythms.