David Laughlin has made it known that he plans to step down from his Metallurgical and Materials Transactions Principal Editor position at the end of 2016. The journal’s Joint Managers (ASM International and The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society) are calling for applications for the position of Principal Editor of the journals. The term will begin in 2016 with the exact transition timing to be determined. The term will be approximately 3 years and will be renewable based on performance.
The Metallurgical and Materials Transactions journals are highly respected, peer-reviewed archival publications for metallurgy and materials science. The Principal Editor oversees three journals: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, B, and E.
Qualifications and Responsibilities
Qualifications for the Principal Editor position are an established record of scholarship in the materials science field, managerial skills necessary to oversee the editorial cycle and a team of paid editors, and the ability to attract and retain respected experts as members of a large editorial team made up of independent contracts and dedicated volunteers.
Following is a brief overview of the Principal Editor’s core responsibilities:
- Direct the journals’ editorial activities and peer-review process by acquiring and editing high-quality technical articles and assigning them promptly.
- Oversee the journals’ Boards of Review, ensuring that the peer-review process is conducted in a timely, thorough manner by respected colleagues.
- With assistance from the Joint Managers and the TMS publishing partner, oversee the production of the journals to ensure articles are processed and published promptly.
- Report regularly to the Joint Managers on the status of the journals.
- Interact with the materials community as Principal Editor of the journals.
Applicants should have clear employer or institutional support for this activity for the duration of their appointment. The Joint Managers will not pay for office space, release time, or support staff but will provide financial support in the form of a regularly paid stipend.
Application Process
Interested individuals should prepare and submit an application via e-mail. The application package must include the following pieces as separate PDF files:
- Letter of Application that describes your qualifications for the role of Principal Editor of the Metallurgical and Materials Transactions journals, such as past experience as an editor or member of an editorial team, history of scholarship in the field, and demonstrated capacity to manage personnel and deadlines and to attract and retain contributors to projects.
- Vision Statement that provides a clear description of your vision for journals under your leadership. The statement should set forth your goals and plans for the content of the journals and how you will operationalize your plan.
- Vita or Resume that accurately portrays your experience, indicates your current affiliations, and lists your current contact information.
Applications will be reviewed by an Advisory Committee (comprised of ASM and TMS members and staff) soon after the submission deadline, and selected candidates will be contacted for interviews. The selected candidate will be expected to disclose any potential conflicts of interest prior to appointment and annually thereafter throughout his or her term of service.
Applications will be accepted via e-mail only. Send applications and other attachments to Matt Baker, TMS Content Senior Manager, by August 3. Questions about the application process can be sent to Matt as well.
