***Please note that applications for the 2024 scheme are now closed. If you would like to apply for the 2025 scheme, applications will reopen in September 2024***

Are you less than five years post-PhD, live in or are from the Global South, and looking to gain hands-on experience with an editorial board? Why not apply for the 2024 mentoring scheme with Journal of Applied Ecology!

What does it involve?

Since 2015, Journal of Applied Ecology has welcomed a small group of mentees with minimum editorial experience each year. This voluntary two-year position aims to develop mentees’ understandings of the peer review process and to boost confidence. Each successful candidate can expect to:

• Be appointed one of five Senior Editors who can help guide them through the peer review process, acting as on-going support throughout the two years
• Receive continous support for any queries from the Editorial Office
• Gain experience in the peer review process by assessing manuscripts via selecting reviewers and submitting recommendations to Senior Editors
• Have opportunities to help shape the future of Journal of Applied Ecology through submitting ideas and getting involved in journal initiatives

Due to the high volume of applications we receive for our mentoring scheme, please note that this program now only recruits applicants based in the Global South (as defined here). This decision aims to help mentees develop their research agenda by engaging with international networks. Researchers from the Global South with temporary research positions in the Global North are also eligible.

Feedback from past mentees

Yanjie Xu (mentee 2021-2023)

‘I was so lucky to hear about this opportunity at the British Ecology Society Annual Meeting in 2019, when I was wrapping up my PhD and looking for my next opportunity. Like a gosling about to fly independently, there were too many things to learn and consider!

One of the most important steps in growing is to make decisions, requiring perceptiveness, collaboration, and critical thinking. I believed that there was no better solution for me than applying for the Associate Editor Mentoring scheme, so I applied without hesitation.

I really appreciate the mentoring program and the whole Journal of Applied Ecology team. They gave me the first opportunity to learn and go through the full process of handling manuscripts as an Associate Editor. I was offered great introductory materials to begin the learning process smoothly and with confidence. I also had a great mentor, Prof. Philip Stephens, who enabled me to have great discussions about each manuscript that we worked on together.

Over the past two years, I have not only developed my editorial skills from zero, but also better understood how the peer review process works at a high-impact journal. These unique insights are critical for early career researchers like myself. Moreover, through handling different manuscripts, I have improved my ability to make decisions in academia and answer questions such as: How to measure if a study is sound/relevant, how to integrate different ideas from other researchers and how to draw a conclusion with confidence. I’ve found my answers, thanks to the mentoring scheme.’

Emanuela Weidlich (mentee 2021-2023)

‘As an author I had very good experiences publishing in four of the BES journals. I have read and cited many papers from Journal of Applied Ecology and use many of their applied ecology studies in the courses that I teach. So, I thought it would be nice to act as an Associate Editor mentee and be involved in the other side of the publication process. As I work with restoration and applied ecology, Journal of Applied was the best fit for me. I knew it would take up time and energy, but that it would be worth it. As writing is one of my main skills and one of the scientific tasks that I enjoy the most, acting as Associate Editor has been a great experience.

I enjoy being part of the editorial board as I’m able to read and assess novel scientific findings before publication. My mentor, Martin Nuñez, and other BES Editors and stuff have been really helpful during both the beginning phases, as well as after that. As Associate Editor mentee I’ve interacted with scientists, authors, reviewers and other Editors. Furthermore, considering that we, as scientists, volunteer our own time to oversee the peer review process, I find it nice that the BES offers Associate Editors the registration to their Annual Meeting as recognition of our work. I really enjoyed personally meeting the BES staff and other Editors at the Annual Meeting in Edinburgh last year, and it made me feel part of the team.

As a Brazilian ecologist (currently working in Europe) I am always happy to see great studies coming from the Global South. Applied ecology is essential in this region, which has areas of priority for conservation and restoration. I am constantly learning something new as a scientist, and acting as Associate Editor allowed me to better understand how the publication process works, and certainly improved my writing skills. It has also helped me to become a better author as I now know that people who receive my manuscripts are people just like me. Overall, for me, working collaboratively is the best way to advance science, and being a BES Associate Editor is a good way to assess and push quality science further.’

You can hear more from our current mentees here.

How do I apply?

If you’re interested in the scheme, please fill out this form. You’ll need to include the following when applying:

• What you know about publishing and the peer review process, as well as what you’re interested to learn more about
• A brief overview of your areas of expertise and research interests
• Which Senior Editor you feel would be best suited as your mentor based on your research areas. You can find out more about them here.
• You will also be asked to upload your CV

If you have any general questions about the scheme, or the role more specifically, please feel free to send them to Lydia at admin@journalofappliedecology.org

Deadline for applications: 2nd October 2023