Ever wanted to know what the staff at the RSC get up to? In this blog our publishing editors describe some of the interesting activities they are working on, and let you know what it's really like to work at a leading international scientific publishers. You can also hear from the development editors in our publishing team, and find out what exciting projects and RSC social events they have been involved in recently.

Find out more about publishing opportunities at the RSC here
 

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Archive for June, 2016

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My ambition upon completing my Chemistry degree was to move into a job where I could use my new knowledge and skills. However, over my four years at the University of Birmingham I had become sure that continuing in a lab wasn’t the way for me.

My role at the RSC as a Publishing Editor not only allows me to use my degree but also to continue to be involved in the world of the chemical sciences while also learning new skills and new science on a daily basis.

As a member of the General Team I am part of the peer review process for Chemical Science, ChemComm and RSC Advances, and I get to work closely with not only my colleagues in the office but with our academic Associate Editors across the world. As well as peer review, since starting at the RSC I have also been trained to edit scientific papers. As the quality of the work we do is so important to the scientific community the training team is also of the highest quality, and I found their commitment to helping me learn the new skills I needed phenomenal.

The RSC has one of the friendliest atmospheres I have ever been lucky enough to work in. The office is full of people from different backgrounds and different specialities and even from day one I’ve been made to feel welcome.

In a few weeks I will have been at the RSC for 18 months and as that anniversary, which will be celebrated as all events are at the RSC with cake, approaches I find it hard to believe how much I have gained in that short span of time. From knowing very little about publishing I have discovered a new career which I find exciting and challenging each and every day, and also made some fantastic life-long friends at the same time. 
James is working as a Publishing Editor in the General Chemistry team, in the Royal Society of Chemistry's Publishing Department. To see if there are any current vacancies in Publishing click here.
 
Posted by Sarah Farley on Jun 23, 2016 6:48 PM BST

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I joined the RSC as a Publishing Editor in January 2015, and the fact I am writing this blog post on what is coming up to my 18-month anniversary of starting really bears testament to the old phrase “time flies when you’re having fun”.


I had come to realise that while I wanted to use my chemistry degree in my career, I felt I was better suited to a non-laboratory setting. In essence, being a Publishing Editor fulfils the best of both worlds - I still work daily with top quality science while hanging up my labcoat.

I am responsible for handling the peer review of submissions to Energy & Environmental Science and Green Chemistry, two high-impact journals that the RSC is proud to have in its repertoire. Work here and your training is second-to-none; as well as peer review, I’m a fully trained in editing - I’ve always enjoyed writing for fun so it’s an enjoyable challenge. I find my work just as varied and unpredictable as my days in the lab.

One thing that struck me ever since my assessment day is the working environment. We’re proud of our growing reputation as a world-leading scientific publisher - my colleagues impress upon me how much Publishing has grown and the recent building extension backs them up - but you’d be hard pressed to find a bunch of friendlier, more helpful colleagues anywhere else.

There’s a great social scene; many people relocate for the job, so you won’t be the only one whose accent isn’t quite ‘Royal’ (I speak for myself!). ‘RSC’ also unofficially stands for ‘Royal Society of Cake,’ to say we’re a keen bunch of bakers is an understatement.

I’m very happy to be part of an ambitious publisher that’s going exciting places in the coming years - hopefully I’ve persuaded you to come and join me!
Jon is working as a Publishing Editor in the Sustainability team, in the Royal Society of Chemistry's Publishing Department. To see if there are any current vacancies in Publishing click here.
 
Posted by Sarah Farley on Jun 16, 2016 7:01 PM BST

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There are many projects and activities to become involved with alongside a day-to-day role at the RSC. Publishing Editor Kathryn Gempf explains her involvement as Chair of the RSC Sports and Social Club's charity Auction.



What’s the Auction?
A wonderful RSC Sports and Social Club tradition! Held just before Christmas, it’s an eBay style, computer based auction for RSC staff in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice. The 2015 Auction raised over a whopping £4000. 

What were the lots?
We ask staff, local businesses, not-so-local businesses and celebrities for donations. Lots received ranged from tickets to the FA semi-finals to a luxury Christmas hamper. We also asked staff members to make ‘promises’ which again came through in all sorts of forms: promises to deliver home-made cake to your desk every Monday for a month, to a staff member donating a day of his holiday to become the lucky winner’s P.A. for that day!

How did I get involved?
As I’m sure you can read from the surrounding blog posts here, there are so many fun opportunities for extra projects or responsibilities alongside the job description here at the RSC. Having always loved social activities I joined the Sports and Social Club Committee almost immediately after starting my job as a Publishing Editor in January 2015. It was through this that the 2015 auction chair role came up around October, and I jumped at the chance.

Why is it so great?
The whole thing was so much fun. I loved getting to know the building (storing our lots in secret cupboards and the attic), the experience of managing a project and team, and getting to know so many wonderful people from across the organisation. However, my personal highlight was absolutely going to town with our ‘Auction live’ advertising campaign, including getting the choir to perform a flash concert of the ’12 Days of Auction’ 1 hour before closing the bidding.
 
I’m so pleased to be part of such a fun and generous community and can't wait to see what projects the future brings.
Kathryn is working as a Publishing Editor in the General Chemistry team, in the Royal Society of Chemistry's Publishing Department. To see if there are any current vacancies in Publishing click here.
Posted by Sarah Farley on Jun 16, 2016 6:55 PM BST

fdd5fdda73a097a80214e60f652b2373-huge-caMy academic background, unlike many of my colleagues, is completely unrelated to Chemistry.  I completed my PhD studying the changes in neuronal function during Multiple Sclerosis. On my first day on the job, I was handed a typical submission to our journal and stared blankly at it.  What did I get myself into?  With the help of my team, however, I was soon able to ‘talk shop’ about issues ranging from novel solar cell devices to the principles of Green Chemistry.

I have now been at the RSC for over a year, and have thoroughly enjoyed hanging up my lab coat and diving into a new subject area.  I am a fully trained Publishing Editor, having completed editing and peer review training.  

Aside from this, I was fortunate to play a role in the RSC Sports and Social Club Christmas Auction to raise money for the East Anglia Children’s Hospital and I am currently a member of the Celebrating Success team whose mission it is to recognise the success of teams and individuals across the Publishing department.  Both of these initiatives have helped me to positively engage with other members RSC while flexing my creative muscles.

I look forward to developing my role further at the RSC and continue to enjoy those moments when I stumble upon a technical edit with a biology application!
Cathy is working as a Publishing Editor in the Sustainability team, in the Royal Society of Chemistry's Publishing Department. To see if there are any current vacancies in Publishing click here.
Posted by Sarah Farley on Jun 16, 2016 6:33 PM BST