Call for Editor(s)-in-Chief of Insect Systematics and Diversity

The Entomological Society of America is seeking candidates to serve in the position of editor-in-chief of Insect Systematics and Diversity. Applications from sole candidates or from two people to serve as co-editors-in-chief are both welcome. Women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and LGBTQ scientists, as well as scientists from intersecting groups and other underrepresented or minoritized groups, are encouraged to apply. Applicants may reside within the United States or another country. The selected candidate’s term will begin January 1, 2022, although training and orientation will begin earlier.

Insect Systematics and Diversity (ISD) publishes original research in the fields of systematics, evolution, and biodiversity of insects and related arthropods. The journal welcomes integrative studies incorporating comparative and developmental morphology, conservation, behavior, taxonomy, molecular phylogenetics, paleobiology, natural history, phylogeography, and articles that utilize novel technologies or data types or describe emerging methods of research. The journal began publishing in 2017 and receives about 50 submissions per year. It will receive its first impact factor in summer 2021.

Qualifications

  • A comprehensive background and broad experience within the areas covered by the journal’s scope.
  • Significant experience writing, editing, and reviewing scientific research manuscripts, as well as previous journal editorial experience.
  • Able to collaborate with authors, subject editors, editorial boards, ESA staff, and others involved in the journal in a positive, professional, inclusive, fair, and constructive manner.
  • Able to devote the time and energy necessary to conduct outreach on the journal’s behalf and ensure that published articles are of the highest quality and scientific interest.
  • Well-connected in the field in order to effectively seek out expertise, such as when recruiting new subject editors, recruiting papers, or finding reviewers.

Responsibilities

  • Provide scientific leadership for Insect Systematics and Diversity.
  • Uphold the vision, scope, and policies of the journal and communicate those elements to authors, subject editors, and other stakeholders.
  • Participate in creating and implementing journal strategy.
  • Review initial submissions for quality and appropriateness of scope and assign appropriate manuscripts to subject editors, who manage the peer review process.
  • Work to ensure that articles published are of the highest quality and scientific interest and that the peer review process proceeds smoothly, fairly, and efficiently.
  • Participate in paper and special issue recruitment.
  • Recruit subject editors when needed, ensuring the group is diverse in expertise, geography, gender, race, ethnicity, and other measures of diversity. 
  • Act as an ambassador for the journal at professional conferences and events.
  • Chair the Insect Systematics and Diversity editorial board and participate in quarterly calls.

This is primarily a volunteer position, but the editor-in-chief will receive an honorarium of $4000 USD (in the case of co-editors-in-chief, each editor will receive $2000) and will be reimbursed for expenses, including registration and travel to ESA’s annual meeting. The initial appointment is for a term of four years. The expected workload is about five hours per week. Editors-in-chief receive significant support in the management and strategy of the journal from ESA staff, Oxford University Press, and publications volunteers.

How to Apply

The deadline for applications is May 31, 2021. Interested candidates should submit the following to the search committee via pubs@entsoc.org: (1) cover letter describing their qualifications for the position, their vision and goals for the journal, and a diversity statement that describes their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), their experiences working with diverse populations, and how they plan to incorporate DEI principles in this role; (2) curriculum vitae; and (3) reprints of two published articles that best represent the candidate’s work. A search committee of ISD editorial board members and ESA publications council members will review all applications, conduct interviews, and submit a recommendation to the ESA governing board for approval. Finalists will be asked to provide two letters of recommendation.