Scientific Editor, Review Commons (EMBO)

About the team/job

EMBO stands for excellence in the life sciences. We support talented researchers at all stages of their careers in Europe and beyond, stimulate the exchange of scientific information, and help build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work.

EMBO Press encompasses four prestigious scientific research journals, The EMBO Journal, EMBO Reports, Molecular Systems Biology and EMBO Molecular Medicine, and runs a fifth, Life Science Alliance, in association with Rockefeller University Press and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

EMBO also runs Review Commons, an innovative preprint peer review platform funded by HHMI and EMBO. 

Your role

EMBO is seeking a highly motivated scientist with broad and international high-level research experience for the role of Scientific Editor for the preprint peer-reviewing platform Review Commons.

Review Commons provides high-quality, expert peer-review of preprints before submission to a journal. The reviews are posted on bioRxiv and medRxiv and can be directly used by a consortium of 17 journals published by EMBO Press, PLOS, eLife, The Company of Biologists, Rockefeller University Press and ASCB.

The Editor will run a high-quality and efficient peer-review process and will manage the interactions of the platform with authors.

This is a unique opportunity to become involved in one of the most exciting projects in scientific publishing and to contribute to redefining the practice of peer review in the life sciences.

Specific responsibilities

• Critically evaluate manuscripts submitted to the platform and liaison with the members of the Academic Board of Editors to make an initial editorial decision on the suitability of submissions for peer-review by the platform.
• Assign submitted manuscripts to Reviewing Editors and assist in assigning and inviting peer reviewers.
• Monitor the quality and efficiency of the peer-review process.
• Correspondence with authors to provide support and advice.
• Attendance of conferences and visits to research institutions to represent the platform.
• Delivering talks and training programmes related to scientific communication, peer review and open science.
• Perform additional tasks as required by the Deputy Head of Scientific Publications or the EMBO Director.

This position will occasionally require working outside of the normal working hours, in the evenings or during the weekend during conferences or other events. 

You have

• Successful postdoctoral research experience in the life sciences, preferably in a domain relevant to cell and molecular biology.
• A broad knowledge and interest in cell and molecular biology.
• Experience working in an international academic environment;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;
• A decisive, analytical and impartial mind;
• Excellent organizational skills and an ability to follow guidelines while working autonomously. 

You might also have

• A background in immunology or neuroscience;
• Prior editorial experience, which would be a very strong asset for this position. 

Why join us

The EMBO offices are located on the international EMBL life science research campus in Heidelberg, Germany. Heidelberg, home to around 150,000 people, is a lively university city. EMBO is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international science organisation. As a non-profit organisation, we have an informal and collegial working environment that is inspired by our dedication to working for a common greater good. 

What else you need to know

You will report to the EMBO Deputy Head of Scientific Publications.

This position is a 12-month absence cover.