What is an Early Career Board?
A group of researchers who are early in their professional career and are actively involved in editorial and promotional activities for one or more IUCr Journals. Three Early Career Boards (ECBs) are being set up in the three main subject areas of IUCr Journals.
Who qualifies?
An early career researcher is typically someone who is still a PhD student or finished their PhD less than five years ago. PhD students should have passed their Masters or equivalent and should provide a short message from their supervisor to say that they have permission to become an ECB member.
Applicants should be working in an appropriate subject area and have an interest in chemical, biological, physical or computational science, with a focus on structural research. Publication in an appropriate journal is preferable, but not essential for PhD students.
What are the benefits?
Each member of the ECB will be supported by a mentor who guides them through their role on the ECB, and provides help and advice as needed.
The ECB provides networking opportunities for members to connect with peers, editors and other researchers. It aims to make members feel part of a community.
Being an ECB member will help develop critical thinking and skills such as those needed for peer review, publishing articles and promoting their work.
Members will have the ability to provide input on what they as early career researchers need from IUCr journals, to let us know about new ideas or subject areas that they think we should be embracing.
The ECBs may receive help with IUCr Congress/Regional Associates meeting registration fees and organise specific events at those meetings.
Discounts or waivers on APCs (article processing charges) may be available (where applicable).
What duties and responsibilities will you have?
The length of service for an ECB member will be up to three years from the date of appointment.
Each ECB member would be selected to serve on one of the three ECBs at any one time. The journals involved are
ECB1
- Acta Cryst. A, Foundations and Advances
- Journal of Applied Crystallography
- Journal of Synchrotron Radiation
ECB2
- Acta Cryst. B, Structural Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials
- Acta Cryst. C, Structural Chemistry
- Acta Cryst. E, Crystallographic Communications
ECB3
- Acta Cryst. D, Structural Biology
- Acta Cryst. F, Structural Biology Communications
Members of an ECB agree to undertake a minimum number of reviews a year and submit a minimum number of papers during their three-year term.
An ECB member would be expected to review up to 10 papers submitted to one or more of the associated journals in their field of expertise during their term.
Ideally, an ECB member would contribute, in any capacity but at least as a co-author, to the submission of around two papers to one or more of the associated journals over their three-year term.
Members would attend two virtual ECB meetings per year to share their experiences and contribute to the discussions on how the associated journals can better attract papers from junior researchers. They may also be invited to attend online meetings of the journal editorial boards.
Members would be asked to actively encourage submissions by promotion of the journals among their colleagues and other professional contacts. They could also be involved with the journal's presence on social media or help with other promotions and training resources e.g. making videos.
They would of course be an ambassador for the journals at conferences and other relevant events they attend.
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