Are you looking to learn more about the peer review process through hands-on experience? Are you less than five years post-PhD and live in/are from the Global South? Why not consider applying for Journal of Applied Ecology’s 2025 mentoring scheme!
What is the mentoring scheme?
Since 2015, Journal of Applied Ecology has welcomed a small group of mentees with minimum editorial experience each year. This voluntary two-year position aims to develop mentees’ understandings of the peer review process and to boost confidence. Each successful candidate can expect to:
- Be appointed to one of five Senior Editors who can help guide them through the peer review process, acting as on-going support throughout the two years.
- Receive continous support for any queries from the Editorial Office.
- Gain experience in the peer review process by assessing manuscripts via selecting reviewers and submitting recommendations to Senior Editors.
- Have opportunities to help shape the future of Journal of Applied Ecology through submitting ideas and getting involved in journal initiatives.
Eligibility
Please note that applicants must:
- Be less than five years post-PhD (we will also consider people who have had career breaks).
- Be based in the Global South (as defined here), or have a temporary research position in the Global North. This decision aims to help mentees develop their research agenda by engaging with international networks.
Feedback from a past mentee
Gudryan Baronio, mentee 2022-2024
‘As a Brazilian ecologist, I have been fascinated by articles focusing on applied ecology since the beginning of my academic journey. In 2022, I was accepted into the editorial mentoring program for Journal of Applied Ecology, a role I held until 2024. This experience was incredibly enriching, expanding my previous editorial experience from a lower-impact scientific journal to an international platform.
As a member of the editorial team, I engaged with a wide range of topics related to applied ecology, including some cutting-edge developments. My mentor, Romina Rader, a senior editor, guided me through the process, assigning manuscripts for which I served as the handling editor. I also received manuscripts from other senior editors, including Jos Barlow, Martin Nuñez, and Cate Macinnis-Ng. My primary responsibility was to review manuscripts related to ecological interactions in agroecological systems, with a particular focus on predation, pollination, and seed dispersal. However, this process has always been helped by Lydia, Journal of Applied Ecology’s careful and kind assistant editor.
This experience gave me a deeper understanding of the time-consuming nature of the review process and the significant effort required to thoroughly evaluate scientific discussions between authors and reviewers. It also greatly improved my abilities as a scientific author. By gaining insight into the editorial process and exposure to a variety of subjects, I learned how to better present ideas to reviewers, facilitating more effective communication during the publication process.
In December 2023, I attended the BES Annual Meeting in Belfast, an opportunity made possible by the BES’s recognition of the dedication of its editors, which included complimentary registration for the event. Participating in this event as an editor was a unique experience, allowing me to connect with other editors and gain a deeper understanding of the editorial process and the ideas shaping our field.
Since July 2024, I have been serving as an associate editor for Journal of Applied Ecology, a role I intend to continue as long as possible. As an ecologist from the Global South, I am deeply aware of the potential for ecology and its applications to improve quality of life while preserving the natural environment. Moreover, the role of editor not only keeps me constantly updated but also challenges me to engage with and discuss the latest knowledge being submitted and published.’
You can hear more from our current mentees here.
How can you apply?
If you’re interested in the scheme, please fill out this form. You’ll need to include the following when applying:
- What you know about publishing and the peer review process currently, as well as what you’d like to learn more about and gain from the scheme.
- A brief overview of your areas of expertise and research interests.
- Which Senior Editor you feel would be best suited as your mentor based on your research areas. You can find out more about them here.
- A copy of your CV.
If you have any questions about the scheme or the application process, please email Lydia via admin@journalofappliedecology.org.
Deadline for applications: 1st October 2024, 5pm GMT.