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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I have always enjoyed reading scientific literature and writing, and decided that a career in scientific publishing would allow me to continue this after my PhD at the University of York. The Royal Society of Chemistry attracted me due to its welcoming and inclusive reputation.

I work on Chemical Communications, RSC Advances and a range of analytical journals. As my background is in bioinorganic chemistry, I particularly enjoy working on Metallomics. However, working on Chemical Communications means that I see a wide range of topics, and this is great for broadening my knowledge of current hot research topics. As part of my role I get to commission cover artwork which is a rewarding task as I think this is a great opportunity for our authors to celebrate their work. It is great to see finished artwork used to promote cutting edge scientific research.

I am currently training as a user group member for our production workflow system. This means that I will be able to help out with a range of technical problems that might be encountered by my colleagues, and it is a great opportunity to develop my problem solving skills!

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This year I was involved in organising a staff celebration day for the International Year of the Periodic Table. I organised a ‘Guess the Element’ game, a world map of element discoveries, and a periodic table made out of cake!

We also managed to create a human periodic table. It was a great experience for meeting colleagues across the organisation. It is easy to find like-minded people at the Royal Society of Chemistry with the range of clubs that we have. I set-up and run the Baking Club at the Cambridge Office. We meet up once a month at lunchtime and swap baked goods, this month we are all baking pies. All abilities are welcome, and it is a lovely group to be part of.


 

Ellis Wilde 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 Nov 27, 2019 3:45 PM GMT


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Chemistry and publishing have been two of my biggest passions for as long as I can remember, so the opportunity to combine them in the Publishing Editor role meant that this was the perfect job for me after I graduated from university.

I am soon to celebrate my two-year anniversary on the Physical Nano team and the time has flown by. My team coordinates two of the largest journals in the portfolio, PCCP and Nanoscale, as well as the cutting-edge Nanoscale Horizons, so there is always something to do - be it editing manuscripts, corresponding with authors and reviewers, or even attending a Faraday Discussion.

Over the last year, I have been involved with the Royal Society of Chemistry’s newest journal, Nanoscale Advances, which is our first journal to be fully Open Access at launch. The freely available content in Open Access journals aims to help science progress faster and on a global scale – which is amazing in an increasingly collaborative and diverse world! The launch of Nanoscale Advances ensures the Royal Society of Chemistry stays at the forefront of the dynamic journal publication field and it is exciting to be part of this.

As the journal coordinator for Nanoscale Advances, I am more involved in the running of this journal than the other publications on my portfolio. This role has allowed me to work more closely with the development and marketing teams, commissioning cover artwork, preparing the contents of each issue ready for publication every month, assessing manuscripts transferred into the journal, and attending regular meetings to keep on top of the journal’s progress in this important first year. I also get to work directly with authors, making sure that their experience with peer review and article production is as smooth as possible.

Nanoscale Advances’ first impact factor will be released in 2021. We have set our sights high and I am so proud of the opportunities this journal provides for research that might not otherwise be seen by scientists and the general public alike.

Lucy Balshaw 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 Sep 20, 2019 4:54 PM BST



Afteec92168b913b2f5e68a66266c44d30a8-huge-hor graduating from university, I did not have a set career path in mind except that I knew the lab was not for me (too clumsy!) but I wanted to contribute to something that helps people and makes a positive impact. I had dabbled a little in editing while at university and started my own blog, which inspired me to apply for jobs in publishing.

My first job was at a publisher of dentistry magazines which I really enjoyed. To continue my career in publishing at the Royal Society of Chemistry where, as a not-for-profit organisation, the aim is to increase the wellness of employees and to disseminate knowledge, is fantastic! I love knowing that my hard work is allowing my colleagues in other teams to do great things. This includes supporting chemistry teachers across the UK, increasing diversity and inclusion throughout the chemical sciences and helping chemists directly through schemes like the Chemist’s Community Fund.

My degree is in Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry, and I am now working on the Environmental Science journals. I have been a Publishing Editor for four months and I have really enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about a different field.

The move to Cambridge was a bit daunting, but the city itself is lovely and everyone here has been really friendly. There are multiple support networks available through the training scheme and peer-to-peer support system, and regular after work social events!

 
Sarah Holmes 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 Jul 18, 2019 11:45 AM BST


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After my degree I knew that a career in the lab was not for me but I wanted to stay in touch with science. A lot of different roles accommodate this but I thought publishing looked interesting and diverse, and over 10 years later I am still here!

I started working on Databases and then moved into working on the production side of journals before being trained in handling peer review. My role now covers most aspects of journal production as I handle articles from submission to acceptance, and as a journal coordinator, deal with any problems that arise as the article is edited and produced ready for final publication.

I have been able to work on a range of different journals that cover all kinds of chemistry research. Some journals I work on - Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry and Analyst - are among the oldest that the Royal Society of Chemistry publishes, the first edition of Analyst was published in the nineteenth century and it is great to be part of its continued success! However, I have also worked on journals as they first launch, including Analytical Methods and Metallomics.

It is interesting to work with different chemistry communities and to see journals grow and change, and I have enjoyed meeting Board Members and Associate Editors of the journals that I work closely on and hear their point of view. The Publishing Editor role provides a birds-eye view of chemistry research that continues to keep my attention!
 

Harriet Brewerton 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 Jun 6, 2019 12:41 PM BST