Publishing Editor at the RSC – a bit of a change from a PhD in Evolutionary Genetics!
I completed my PhD at Cambridge in 2010 and spent some time working for the NHS in Bristol, before deciding that I wanted a job that used my science background. I spotted an advert for the
RSC Graduate Scheme and, since I had always thought science publishing sounded interesting, I applied.
The assessment day was one of the most positive interview experiences I’ve ever had. Everyone went out of their way to make it as stress-free as possible, and I liked having a chance to ask questions about the day-to-day work of a publishing editor. After that, you can imagine how pleased I was to get a phone call offering me a job!
I’m now fully-trained in proofing, which involves making an author’s final changes to the manuscript before publishing it on the RSC Publishing platform. It’s very satisfying to see a paper appear online in its final form, although hitting the “Publish” button can sometimes be rather daunting! I am currently being trained in editing, which I particularly enjoy. I get to read all the interesting papers before they’re published, and I love feeling that I am contributing to science by improving their readability.
One of the best parts of my job is seeing such a breadth of scientific research. In my four months here I’ve learnt a lot about so many subjects, particularly since the Interfaces journals (
Soft Matter and
RSC Advances) have pretty broad scopes. I’m also excited about publishing the first few online articles for
Biomaterials Science. Maybe I’ll have a chance to use more of my biology background!
Outside of work, I have been rediscovering life in Cambridge. There is so much to do! I go running with a group every Monday night and two weeks ago I heard Sir Terry Pratchett (one of my favourite authors) speak about his new book. This week, I’m looking forward to seeing Antony and Cleopatra at the
ADC Theatre.
The RSC is a great place to work and I feel lucky to be here. I have a job that utilises my skills and my scientific knowledge, while at the same time always providing new challenges. Peer review training is next for me and I’m sure there will be lots more to learn!
LJ Michie is a Graduate 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
