I am not sure if blogging about it is enough - in this case a very strong Resume may be more important - but if you think you have sufficient experience and expertise to be a Managing Editor of a major biology journal, PLoS Biology (and are not too intimidated to be stepping into Hemai's shoes), check the job ad and apply:
The Public Library of Science (PLoS) seeks an experienced editor and manager to lead its flagship life science journal - PLoS Biology. Since its launch in 2003, PLoS Biology has rapidly become established as both a high impact journal and a leader in the open-access publishing movement. This is a unique opportunity to develop a ground-breaking journal, and to shape a fundamental transition in scientific publishing. The managing editor could be based in either of our editorial offices in San Francisco, USA or Cambridge, UK.
Sorry, the Chapel Hill office in my bedroom is too small for such a big position, but San Francisco is a gorgeous city and the folks at PLoS are great to work with.
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sounds very fun! I'll ask around.
Any idea where Hemai is going, if it is not confidential? Is she moving up in the PLOS hierarchy?
Hi there, no, I'm not moving up in the PLoS hierarchy, I'm moving up into the temporary (I hope) unknown! I've been an editor for 9.5 years and I think its time for a change. After all, any service industry that results in over 90% customer dissatisfaction (aka high profile publishing) does take its toll. But being Managing Editor of PLoS Biology hasn't given me a lot of free time to sit and ponder my future. So, I'm turning in my red pen and planning to take a look around to figure out what else someone with a broad background in the evaluation and communication of science can do in the world. If you have any ideas, do let me know!
In any case, PLoS has been a wonderful phase of my career. I was editing a draft of the job ad for my replacement and thinking, "Hey, that sounds like a cool job!". And indeed it is.
cheers, Hemai
"So, I'm turning in my red pen and planning to take a look around to figure out what else someone with a broad background in the evaluation and communication of science can do in the world. If you have any ideas, do let me know!"
Well, you could pick up a black pen and try science writing. You could become a science blogger.
You could look for--or convince an institution to create--a position as a publication coordinator and/or grant application coordinator that assists PIs with writing and strategizing to optimize their chances of getting their papers published or grants funded.
Just thinking out loud, I really think this latter is an unmet need, particularly in academia. I am at an institution that is near the top in NIH grant funding, and yet our grants and contracts office has no one who can look at a grant and help with anything more subtle than, "Hmm, you propose human research. Did you get IRB approval?" Or, "Hmm, NIH requires maximum of six characters per inch, and your narrative is 6.05 characters per inch."
There is a blog written by someone who does this sort of thing, that you might want to look at if it sounds interesting:
http://writedit.wordpress.com/
And from the standpoint of publications, the consultation of a scientific editor at two of the top journals publishing biomedical research in the world would be invaluable for pre-submission consultation.
Frankly, if I were the dean of my medical school, I would hire you as an Assistant Dean of Grants and Publications immediately. I don't know how many, if any, institutions have such positions, but in my opinion, there is a great unmet need at any institution that doesn't.
Send me an e-mail if you want to brainstorm further. Bora has my work e-mail, or it is easy to Google.
There is a tremendous value in your experiences up to now, and I am sure you will find a way to leverage it into an eminently satisfying position somewhere.