To apply
Please email the following to JournalEditor@astro.org:
- Current CV
- A vision statement for the journal ≤ 1,000 words
- The names and contact information for three professional references
- A maximum of three published articles for which you are the primary author
- ASTRO statement of disclosure
Candidates for the position who progress beyond initial application review will be asked to furnish three letters of recommendation, including one letter from a direct supervisor.
Applications are due August 1, 2023.
The search committee anticipates contacting candidates directly by September 1. Top candidates will be invited to interview on Tuesday, October 3, in San Diego.
Overview
The Advances in Radiation Oncology (Advances) Editor-in-Chief (EIC) is the principal architect of scientific content in the journal, as well as a leading member of the radiation oncology research community and ASTRO. An ideal candidate will be an active researcher and a strong communicator, well-known and highly regarded in their discipline and should be comfortable proactively soliciting the best science from top researchers around the world for publication in the journal. Working with the editorial board, ASTRO staff and publisher, the EIC has a significant opportunity to shape and prepare the journal for the future, while bearing responsibility for the journal’s content.
Term commitment
The incoming EIC will serve a five-year term with the possibility of annual extensions thereafter up to an additional five years. Typically, the EIC will dedicate approximately 15+ hours per week with the journal.
In addition to overseeing all journal content and ensuring timely publication of all issues, the EIC will:
Cultivate and manage an editorial board
The EIC will inherit an editorial board. In collaboration with the Managing Editor, the EIC will evaluate and may restructure the board. On an annual basis in conjunction with the ASTRO Annual Meeting the EIC will refresh the board as needed.
Oversee daily journal operations
The EIC will work with ASTRO staff and in the submission and peer review system to assign manuscripts to editors and monitor the workload of section and associate editors. Additionally, the EIC will conduct a cursory review of all incoming manuscripts, identifying manuscripts that are not within scope, and may decline manuscripts without inviting peer review. Other editors may decline manuscripts within their specialty area without inviting peer review. The EIC will ensure that editors understand the need to balance efficient turnaround with thorough and accurate peer review and will work with editors to achieve those objectives.
Set the strategy for the journal
The EIC monitors competitor journals and assures that the journal is state of the art in terms of science and works with staff to initiate new features, new article types and original editorial content. The EIC works in collaboration with ASTRO staff and journal editors to set short- and long-term goals, objectives and strategies for the journal. Typical items to be examined include the nature and scope of the journal, features and enhancements, changes in the author community, editorial timeliness, and enhancements to the journal website. The EIC will present major proposed changes to the ASTRO Board of Directors for discussion and approval at each Annual Meeting. Additionally, the EIC is expected to stay up to date with the current publishing landscape and remain prepared to work with ASTRO leadership and staff to ensure the journal is well-positioned in and adaptive to an evolving environment.
Act as an ambassador to the radiation oncology community
The EIC will be a significant public voice of the journal and will exercise that voice through appearances on behalf of the journal at professional meetings, through editorials and through interactions with researchers and the public. The EIC will:
- actively promote the journal;
- actively solicit manuscripts from leading practitioners in order to facilitate the publication of breakthrough and innovative science;
- work with ASTRO staff, leadership, fellow EICs, the editorial board and ASTRO members to elevate the reputation of the journal;
- participate in panels or other public discussions in their role as EIC; and
- work in conjunction with ASTRO staff to create outreach goals (from which ASTRO staff will develop and execute a plan) to attract authors, increase readership and help promote the value of the journal.
Uphold publication ethics
The EIC upholds the ethics and conflict of interest best practices and works to resolve questions of ethics in publishing in the journal. Ethical violations may involve, but are not limited to: copyright violations, republishing, plagiarizing (including self-plagiarizing), falsification of data or results, misattribution of authors or misattribution of citations. The EIC, in consultation with ASTRO staff, will determine whether violations are of a sufficiently serious nature to be forwarded to an appropriate body for investigation of scientific misconduct.
Review and contribute to periodic journal reports
The EIC, in partnership with ASTRO staff, will contribute to the preparation and review of periodic journal updates and will present the state of the journal to ASTRO’s Board of Directors at the ASTRO Annual Meeting.
Conduct and attend meetings
The EIC will lead an annual editorial board meeting in conjunction with the ASTRO Annual Meeting, and may conduct additional editorial board meetings remotely during the course of the year. The EIC will facilitate discussion about the direction of the journal, ideas for improvement, technology and other innovations, and make recommendations for creating a positive impact on all facets of the journal. The EIC will participate in quarterly meetings with the EICs of the Red Journal and PRO and ASTRO staff, and will meet with the ASTRO Managing Editor on a regular basis to ensure all journal processes and initiatives are progressing. The EIC may attend other meetings as requested by ASTRO.
Compensation
An annual stipend is available for the Editor-in-Chief.