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I can’t believe it has been four months since my last blog post!

On the other hand, it must have been that long, because an awful lot seems to have happened in that time. The Interfaces team is growing fast – we have acquired four new members since I joined the RSC. I am now fully trained in editing, as well as proofing, and am working hard on peer review.

At first, the thought of reading reviews and making a decision on a primary research paper that I had only just read was a terrifying one, but I am now getting into the swing of things and feel that I can cope with the awesome responsibility of the accept/reject decisions. I am more or less independent on RSC Advances peer review (though it is always nice to get a second opinion on a tricky decision!) and have spent the past month training on Soft Matter. Of course, the flip side of the terrifying responsibility is the elation of realising you’ve got a really good paper on your hands, which may be the best bit of this job!

In addition to peer review training, I have been working on producing a new LaTeX template to match the new RSC article template which has been introduced this year. It has been nice to work on a cross-team project, as I’ve got to meet and work with a different set of people in the LaTeX user group. I have also commissioned a few covers for our newest journal, Biomaterials Science. Choosing the most striking image for the front cover is a lot of fun, although sometimes the submission deadlines for final images are quite tight, which can be stressful for us, as well as the authors!

Outside of work, I have also been encouraging my colleagues to come running! So far only a few of us have braved the cold to do a few laps of the Science Park at lunchtime and after work, but we have plans to find more recruits and maybe even enter some races.

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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

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It’s been eleven months since I joined the RSC and I am now approaching the end of my final rotation as part of the scheme. Time flies!

I am currently working within the science team which is a great team to be involved with as everyone is really friendly and the work is varied. For example, recently I’ve been involved in research into medicinal chemistry education in the UK. However I’ve also been helping to devise this year’s global experiment and have been involved in the organisation of a policy lecture on nuclear energy.  

It’s amazing to think back on all the projects I have been involved in.  

Working at the RSC I’ve gained a much better understanding of the role of the society plays in supporting and advancing the chemical sciences. I’ve met people from all over the UK (and in fact all over the world) and had the opportunity to interact with people whose interests lie in different areas of chemistry and who are at very different stages of their careers. There have been countless events and it has been really rewarding to be a part of some of them from the start to finish. I’ve also had the opportunity to travel considerably, mainly in the UK, but also further afield and I’m very proud that I now have a much better knowledge of UK geography. I even know where Loughborough is!

If you are considering applying for the graduate scheme, I would definitely recommend it. The RSC provide lots of training and support and the other grads are great! They didn’t make me say that – honestly.

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Laura Smart is a Graduate working on the Royal Society of Chemistry's Graduate Scheme. To see if there are any current vacancies go to RSC Latest Vacancies

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Since I started on the Graduate Scheme in September 2012, I’ve spent my time working on numerous large projects simultaneously; working at the RSC is definitely an opportunity to test your time management skills! As the projects are so variable and interesting, my time in Strategic and Commercial Partnerships has flown by and I’m just nearing the end of my first rotation.

As one of the six major projects in support of the RSC’s strategic priorities, one of my favourite projects to be involved in was also the most demanding. Supporting excellence in teaching practical science and promoting chemistry to the next generation of scientists were the main aims of the project I was fortunate to be a part of. My role included ‘getting out there’ in the community, arranging external meetings and speaking to local companies, gauging the demand for commercial hire and involvement in science outreach activities. It also involved writing parts of the business plan, calculating projected activities, constructing price models, preparing presentations and posters, contacting Trusts & Foundations for potential funding and writing proposals - nearly all of which I had very little experience in before I started on the graduate scheme! Needless to say, it was an excellent project for a grad to be working on as I was given a lot of responsibility, independence and freedom to contribute my own ideas.

There are lots of rewards in working hard at the RSC, including the chance to work at high-profile events. I’m a big fan of The Apprentice, Ricky Martin and Lord Alan Sugar, so it’s no surprise that I was very excited to be a part of the launch of Hyper Recruitment Solutions (HRS) at the Chemistry Centre in Burlington House. I’ve also had the chance to meet Bill Bryson at the House of Commons, organise several policy events and develop some exciting new chemistry games (out soon!), so I’m eager to see what the rest of the Graduate Scheme will bring me!

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Emily James is a Graduate working on the Royal Society of Chemistry's Graduate Scheme. To see if there are any current vacancies go to RSC Latest Vacancies or subscribe to 'RSC: Latest Vacancies' by Email