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Publishing Editor Blog

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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Latest Posts

Publishing Editor - Materials & Nano
 

ac6900799068b34f964858d09cf1bd7a-huge-ghAs an avid reader and with a broad interest in chemistry (but absolutely no desire to be in a lab each day) when I discovered the Publishing Editor role, it seemed absolutely perfect. Two years on, and I have learned so much about the publishing landscape, and really enjoyed getting involved in all of the social activities and clubs with my colleagues across the organisation.
 
A core part of my role is considering new submissions to journals and discussing these with my colleagues in editorial meetings. As a member of the Materials team, I have really enjoyed learning more about the latest cutting edge research across a broad range of topics from batteries to biosensors to LEDs. In particular, I work on one of the largest journals at the Royal Society of Chemistry, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, which focuses on materials for energy and sustainability. I find it really motivating that my job contributes to the broader efforts of science in solving global environmental issues.
 
Outside of the day-to-day activities, there are also plenty of opportunities to work with different people across the organisation. Last year, I was able to join the Membership team in travelling across the UK to discuss the benefits of Royal Society of Chemistry membership with students at various different universities. This had the added benefit of a trip home to Scotland and a chance to catch up with all my old lecturers, supervisors and friends at the University of Edinburgh.
 
Recently, I was appointed to the role of Assistant Editor, which is a similar role to the Publishing Editor role but focuses on our flagship journal Chemical Science. I am excited to learn more about the strategy and development of the journal, though I will be sad to leave my colleagues on the Materials team. My time at the Royal Society of Chemistry has been a great learning experience, and I know it will stand me in good stead for challenges to come!

Geraldine Hay is a Publishing Editor working in the Royal Society of Chemistry's Publishing Department. To see if there are any current vacancies go to 'RSC: Latest Vacancies' Blog or subscribe to 'RSC: Latest Vacancies' by Email
 
Posted by Harriet Brewerton on May 27, 2020 4:25 PM BST
Publishing Editor - Inorganic


Accepting the Publishing Editor role at the Royal Society of Chemistry signified more for me than just the end of university, it was a new beginning entirely. I was moving away, far from home, and into an exciting yet unfamiliar city, starting a new job without my close friends and family around me for support. To say I was apprehensive was an understatement, but I soon found my feet with the help of this welcoming and sociable company.   

You will see from this blog that one key point that makes the Royal Society of Chemistry spee63ade6a84cb8f099511d10f86e9bf40-huge-pacial is the people. As a voluntary member of the Royal Society of Chemistry Sports and Social club (SSC) I help plan a number of exciting events regularly throughout the year, from table football tournaments to pottery painting – providing lots of opportunities to get creative or competitive alongside your colleagues! We also have a huge variety of clubs that meet regularly at lunchtimes or after work. Whether you would like to take up a new language, pick up your tennis racket again, or bake (a great excuse to make cake, the social glue of our company!) there is something for everyone. 

My role in the SSC is New Starter Liaison, and I am around to help those who are new to the company get settled into their new role and life at the Royal Society of Chemistry. I organise regular lunches for new starters where you can get to know colleagues who have recently begun working at the Royal Society of Chemistry, as well as events outside of work.

The SSC were very welcoming when I began working at the Royal Society of Chemistry, as were the inorganic team who organised a whole team lunch on my first day. As a member of the inorganic team I carry out peer review for our inorganic portfolio including Dalton Transactions and CrystEngComm. I am journal coordinator and cover coordinator for CrystEngComm, acting as a point of contact for queries relating to peer review and publication of papers submitted to the journal, working alongside a multidisciplinary team to ensure the journal runs smoothly. In particular I enjoy commissioning covers for upcoming issues of CrystEngComm, an opportunity to showcase some of the best work submitted to the journal.

Currently, I am particularly proud of the volunteer work being carried out by myself and the rest of the SSC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through organising virtual activities we are helping to boost the morale of the whole company, keeping everyone connected; because after all, what makes the Royal Society of Chemistry so special is the people. 
Paige Boxhall is a Publishing Editor working in the Royal Society of Chemistry's Publishing Department. To see if there are any current vacancies go to 'RSC: Latest Vacancies' Blog or subscribe to 'RSC: Latest Vacancies' by Email

 
Posted by Harriet Brewerton on Apr 20, 2020 4:03 PM BST
Publishing Editor - Materials & Nano
 

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After spending several years in post-doctoral research and realising this was not the career for me, I was attracted to the Royal Society of Chemistry's Publishing Editor graduate programme as a way of staying close to science while developing my growing interests in written communication.

The assessment centre day was very well organised, with accommodation and travel expenses covered, and a big effort was made all round to make the attendees feel at ease. It was an interesting and enjoyable day, and I was pleasantly surprised to get a phone call the next week telling me I'd been successful! Although the Publishing Editor role is advertised as a graduate position, it is actually open to anyone with a science background looking to begin a new career in publishing.

Having previously written and reviewed scientific papers (including for Royal Society of Chemistry journals!), it was an enlightening experience to find myself on the other side of the peer review process as an editor. I began working on manuscripts under the very attentive and supportive supervision of my trainer. Working on the Materials teams has allowed me to apply my physics knowledge but also increased my chemistry knowledge a huge amount in lots of areas (I now know a lot about batteries!). I have taken on a number of additional responsibilities, including supporting our associate editors, commissioning cover artwork, and compiling journal issues.

When I first came to Cambridge I was able to rent one of the Royal Society of Chemistry's staff flats, which gave me time to find a suitable place to live and made the move a lot less stressful. The flats are also available for shorter bookings (e.g., for family visits) and are very helpful for staff moving to the area. The Royal Society of Chemistry also looks to help the local community and staff can apply to use a few working days a year to undertake voluntary work.

The Royal Society of Chemistry is a very open and friendly place to work, which is particularly apparent around Christmas when all staff enjoy the annual Christmas lunch at Kings College in Cambridge! I have learnt a lot in just one year, and it is great to work in such a varied role within a friendly and supportive team.

Matthew Blow is a Publishing Editor working in the Royal Society of Chemistry's Publishing Department. To see if there are any current vacancies go to 'RSC: Latest Vacancies' Blog or subscribe to 'RSC: Latest Vacancies' by Email

 
Posted by Harriet Brewerton on Mar 3, 2020 12:48 PM GMT