In partnership with the United States Association for the Study of Pain (USASP), the Journal of Pain announces an opening for 5 early career editorial fellow positions to begin on January 1, 2023. The Editorial Fellowship program is specifically geared to provide opportunities to early career scientists to expand diversity, inclusion, and scientific excellence in editorial leadership. The Journal of Pain strives for diverse and inclusive representation among the journal editorial team and the editorial board, who serve key leadership roles for the field. We are committed to creating and maintaining a broadly inclusive environment that encourages participation and leadership of women, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, Indigenous people, scholars with disabilities, and individuals from other marginalized groups.
Applications due: November 1, 2022
About the journal
The Journal of Pain has an international and diverse authorship base, publishing original articles and reviews related to all aspects of pain, including basic, translational, and clinical research, epidemiology, education, and health policy. The journal is the scientific publication of the United States Association for the Study of Pain (USASP), whose mission is to promote scientific advances that reduce the burden of pain.
About the fellowship
The Editorial Fellowship will give participants the opportunity to obtain insight into the peer review process by shadowing experienced journal editors, thereby obtaining a direct and immersive experience in how a manuscript is handled, from submission to final decision. This will include the opportunity to critically review papers with the supervision of assigned editors who will serve as their mentors. Fellows will enhance skills in recognizing the characteristics of well-conducted research and to detect flaws in design, statistical analysis, and biases in data interpretation that compromise the quality of research. Through interaction with current editors and editorial board members, fellows learn the roles of editor, reviewer, and publisher to gain a broad understanding of the overall scientific publishing process.
The fellows will work closely with the journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Tonya Palermo, PhD, and the six associate editors, to develop their editorial skills. Each fellow will have the opportunity to collaborate on up to 12 manuscripts over the course of the year. This process will include screening manuscripts for appropriateness, identifying reviewers, making an editorial decision based on reviews, and shepherding the manuscript through to publication if accepted, all with mentorship from the editor/associate editor. The successful candidate will also be expected to participate in monthly meetings with their mentor to ensure goals are met. Most of these meetings will be video teleconferences, although in-person meetings at scientific conferences are also possible. Upon successful completion of the fellowship, Editorial fellows will become members of the journal’s editorial board if they are not already.
Selected activities will include:
1. Completion of Editorial Board reviewer training
2. Review of selected manuscripts, in consultation with editors
3. Attendance at the Editorial Board meeting of The Journal of Pain at USASP in 2023
The fellowships will last one year (1/1/23-12/31/23), and fellows will receive a stipend of $1,000.
Eligibility
The fellowships are open to U.S. and international pain scientists from all training backgrounds and disciplines, who are within five years of their initial academic appointment (e.g., early lecturers/assistant professors), although individuals in non-academic positions and suitable qualifications are also eligible. Applications are welcome from those that have had a career break, but they will need to demonstrate that they have been active in their position for less than five years. We also welcome applications from exceptional late-stage post-doctoral researchers.
Eligible applicants will identify as members of diverse racial or ethnic communities and/or with other marginalized groups (these could include professionals who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, professionals who come from low-income backgrounds, first-generation scholars, or professionals with disabilities) to expand diversity in the editorial leadership pipeline.
Qualified candidates should have experience serving as journal referees/reviewers but should not have had prior experience of rendering final decisions on manuscripts’ acceptability. We also look for evidence of a broad perspective, good judgment, exceptional communication skills, and strong management skills, as well as a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Applicants should have been the lead author on at least one paper in a pain journal such as The Journal of Pain, or in a journal of similar caliber in a closely related discipline.
How to apply
All applications should include the following:
- A letter of interest not exceeding two pages should describe the applicant's familiarity with and their experience of The Journal of Pain (e.g., as a reader, referee and/or author), as well as to detail their experience with peer review. Applicants should describe how The Journal of Pain has impacted their career to-date. The letter should also include a statement regarding how the applicant is advancing issues of inclusion, equity, and diversity, and how participating in the fellowship can help fulfill their career goals.
- A curriculum vitae
- A letter of recommendation that speaks to the applicant’s potential for leadership and that confirms the applicant has available time to participate in the program.
Review of applications
To encourage equity, diversity, and inclusiveness in the Journal of Pain Editorial Fellowship program, we will partner with the USASP IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) committee and the Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism SIG to assist in promoting the program and selecting the editorial fellows.
Application materials are due to Tonya Palermo on November 1, 2022, and should be submitted as a single PDF file. The top candidates will be notified of their selection by November 30, 2022.
Address any questions to tonya.palermo@seattlechildrens.org.