New Phytologist seeks a new Editor-in-Chief from 2025

Last updated: 18 Mar, 2024

New Phytologist is seeking a new Editor-in-Chief to succeed Professor Alistair Hetherington, who will step down from the role at the end of December 2024.

New Phytologist is a leading international plant science journal that publishes excellent, novel, rigorous and timely research and scholarship in plant science and its applications. Published by the not-for-profit New Phytologist Foundation, all excess revenues from the publication are put back into the plant science research community. The journal aims to provide an outstanding level of service to its authors, reviewers, and readers.

The Editor-in-Chief of New Phytologist leads and oversees the journal’s editorial policy, vision and scientific direction and strategy. Supported by the Executive Editor, Managing Editor, Section Editors and wider editorial board, the Editor-in-Chief ensures that the journal’s published content and associated activities support the mission of the New Phytologist Foundation to serve the global plant science community.

The Editor-in-Chief is also involved in Foundation activities as a member of the Board of Trustees, such as making decisions on which symposia, workshops and grants will be supported. The Editor-in-Chief reports twice annually on the activities and strategic direction of the journal to the Board of Trustees.

The New Phytologist Foundation Trustees would like to hear from suitably qualified plant scientists to lead the next phase of the journal’s development. Full information is given in the journal details, key duties and essential criteria, below.

The appointment is for an initial five-year term, commencing 1 January 2025, there will be scope for the successful candidate to shadow the current Editor-in-Chief, Professor Alistair Hetherington, before they commence their duties. An annual editorial support package will be made available to the successful candidate.

Application process

Applicants should register their interest by completing this form, where they will be asked to provide a brief description of their career to date, their vision for the journal, and their suitability for the role. Deadline: 1 June 2024.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a full CV and make a short presentation to the selection committee, which consists of New Phytologist Foundation Trustees, officers and Editors of the journal. Presentations are expected to take place in July 2024.

Queries are welcomed and can be directed to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Professor Keith Lindsey (keith.lindsey@durham.ac.uk) or Executive Editor, Sarah Lennon (s.lennon@lancaster.ac.uk).

Interested applicants are also welcome to contact Prof. Alistair Hetherington, current Editor-in-Chief, with any questions about the role (alistair.hetherington@bristol.ac.uk).

We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression, race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting diversity, and equality of opportunity.

Key duties and essential criteria

Key duties:

Provide editorial leadership and oversight to ensure that the journal remains one of the internationally leading academic research journals in plant sciences
Devise, articulate and execute a strategic plan for the journal’s continuing success, with support from the Editorial Board, and Central Office team
Identify key subject areas on which the journal should focus, including both emerging and established areas, as well as identifying and appointing suitably qualified researchers as Editors to support these topics
Appoint individuals to the Editorial and Advisory boards, taking advice from Editorial Board colleagues, with a view to ensuring topic/subject coverage and diversity in representation among the boards
Maintain regular communication with the Editorial board with respect to issues such as key metrics and journal development
Provide advice and guidance on matters of editorial process to Editors and journal staff, for example, on appeals/rebuttals, ensuring a fair process and maintaining the journal’s high- quality standards for scientific integrity
With the support of the Central Office team, oversee the review process for the journal, ensuring a robust, timely and fair peer-review process, and provide advice on emerging issues when required
Lead on the resolution of research integrity concerns, working with the Central Office team and publisher, as appropriate
Represent the journal, and the New Phytologist Foundation, at international plant science events
Support the work of the Tansley Review Editor in commissioning high-quality timely reviews for the benefit of the international plant science community
Work with the Central Office team to monitor key journal metrics, and to ensure processes and workflows are optimised
Contribute to selecting proposals for funding by the New Phytologist Foundation
Ensure calibration and consistency of decision-making across the journal, in collaboration with the Section Editors
Liaise with the publishers and Trustees on matters of publishing strategy, policy and direction
Attend scheduled meetings with the Executive and Managing Editors of New Phytologist to discuss ongoing developments in publishing and to ensure that the journal meets its strategic development aims
Meet with the Chair of the Foundation to discuss journal business
Organize and chair the annual Editorial Board meeting
Liaison with the Editor-in-Chief of Plants, People, Planet to ensure commonality of purpose and strategy in the support of the goals of the New Phytologist Foundation
Contribute to the work of the New Phytologist Foundation as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Essential criteria:

An active research programme, coupled with a strong publication record and deep knowledge of their subject area, as well as a broad understanding of the scientific issues across the whole spectrum of plant sciences
Extensive editorial experience and familiarity with the journal publishing process
Knowledge of, and interest in, wider issues in science publishing
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain and develop relationships with editorial and Central Office colleagues, advisory board members, authors and reviewers to grow and enhance the reputation of the journal
Outstanding communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and in different formats
Proven leadership skills, and the ability to maintain confidentiality when working with the journal’s community on sensitive matters
Excellent organizational skills, including an ability to work to tight deadlines and manage competing priorities
An extensive network of international plants science researchers and the ability to maintain and grow networks
Recognition of the unique attributes of New Phytologist, the New Phytologist Foundation, and plant science research community.

Journal details

More information on New Phytologist can be found here (pdf, opens in a new tab)