Overview: The Journal of the American Ceramic Society (JACerS) is seeking a candidate to join the editorial team. The editors are the principal arbiters for the scientific content of JACerS and are key contributors to its longevity and future success. The editors are active scientists, well-known and respected in their respective disciplines. The editors actively engage the best scientists to have their work published in JACerS and to act as manuscript reviewers. Working with JACerS editor-in-chief, The American Ceramic Society, reviewers, and authors, the editors shepherd manuscripts through the review process, managing the balance between quality and turnaround time and ensuring the high scientific and ethical standards of JACerS and the Society.
Desired technical and editorial expertise
- Demonstrated expertise in areas including characterization of ceramics, electronic ceramics, electrochemical response, sintering
- Familiarity with advanced characterization at all length scales such as transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and diffraction
- Experience with functional ceramics for electronic and/or electrochemical devises
- Previous editorial experience is preferred, particularly if it involved decision making responsibilities
Key functions of the editor
Advance scientific excellence
- Actively solicit manuscripts from leading practitioners to facilitate publication of breakthrough and innovative science in JACerS
- Recruit reviewers and provide instruction to ensure reviews meet rigorous scientific and ethical standards of the Society within agreed-upon turnaround times
- Assess performance of reviewers, providing in-process guidance and replacing those who consistently underachieve with respect to quality or timeliness goals
- Alert the editor-in-chief and ACerS staff on questions of ethics for submitted work
Manage manuscript review decisions
- Initial reading of manuscript to determine whether manuscript is reviewed or rejected without further review
- Assign manuscripts to reviewers matching manuscript content to reviewer expertise
- Monitor status of manuscripts and, when necessary, remind reviewers of time-sensitivity and/or reassign manuscripts to alternate reviewers
- Make decision to accept, revise, or reject manuscripts based upon reviewer comments, own expertise, and experience, then communicate decisions and rationale to the editor-in-chief and ACerS staff
- Work with authors, ACerS staff, and reviewers to ensure that when revisions are required the revised manuscripts meet expectations for publication
Active participation internally and externally
- Participate in conferences, public discussions, and ACerS events
- Act as an ambassador to authors, reviewers, and scientist
- Actively promote JACerS to the relevant community
- Attend meetings of JACerS Editorial Board via teleconferences and in-person
- Provide feedback and ideas for improvement, technology and other innovations, and make recommendations to create a positive impact on all facets of the journal
Desirable characteristics of effective editors
- High personal/scientific standards
- Highly respected among peers, including the international community, for their scientific work
- Active in research
- Wide knowledge of subjects within scope of JACerS
- Enthusiastic, energetic, and committed
- Effective and positive communicator
- Strong leader, good sense of teamwork
- Ability to work effectively with diverse viewpoints and approaches
- Respect for confidential information
- Cooperative and open-minded
- Effectively resolves misunderstandings
- Firm decision-maker
- Promptly and effectively follows through
- Explores and embraces innovative technologies
The editor is a part-time position. Although this position is part of the journal volunteer structure, the editor will receive a stipend.
If you are interested in applying for this position, please send a cover letter detailing your interest in the position and describing your expertise along with an abbreviated CV to managing editor Jonathon Foreman at jforeman@ceramics.org by June 1, 2021. Questions can be directed to JACerS editor-in-chief Bill Fahrenholtz at billf@mst.edu or 573-341-6343. Screening will commence after the submission deadline and will continue until the position is filled.