mBio Early-Career Editorial Board 2027-2028: Candidatures – 20 octobre 2026

Contexte

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is inviting applications for the 2027–2028 mBio Early-Career Editorial Board (ECB), a professional development programme designed to help early-career researchers build expertise in scientific peer review, publication ethics and scholarly publishing. The programme offers participants structured training, hands-on manuscript reviewing experience and mentorship from experienced mBio editors. It is intended for researchers who want to strengthen their academic careers, improve their critical evaluation skills and contribute to high-quality scientific publishing. Applications open on 19 October 2026 and close on 11 December 2026. Researchers from all geographic regions are encouraged to apply, with particular encouragement for individuals from groups underrepresented in the sciences.

About the mBio Early-Career Editorial Board: mBio is a scientific journal published by the American Society for Microbiology. Through its Early-Career Editorial Board, the journal provides emerging researchers with practical experience in the peer-review process and an opportunity to learn from established editors. Peer review is an essential part of scientific publishing because it helps assess the quality, reliability and relevance of research before publication. However, early-career researchers may have limited formal training in reviewing manuscripts. The ECB programme addresses this gap by combining structured instruction with supervised reviewing assignments. Participants learn how to assess scientific manuscripts, identify methodological concerns, provide constructive feedback and apply ethical standards when evaluating research. The programme also introduces participants to responsible editorial practices and the challenges involved in maintaining fairness and integrity in scholarly communication.

Missions et responsabilités

Selected participants must commit to the programme from spring 2027 through summer 2028. They are expected to attend all training sessions or watch the corresponding recordings, participate actively in group discussions and mentoring meetings, and complete assigned activities. During the reviewing phase, members are expected to review an average of one mBio manuscript per month, as assigned by their mentor or other mBio editors. Board members must also follow ASM reviewer policies and guidelines, maintain manuscript confidentiality, and provide timely, fair, unbiased and constructive reviews. They are expected to help foster an inclusive scholarly publishing environment and encourage colleagues in the microbial sciences to support their professional society. Applicants should therefore consider the time commitment carefully before applying.

Profil recherché

The programme is designed for early-career researchers working in the sciences, particularly those with expertise relevant to the microbiology research published by mBio. Researchers interested in scientific manuscript evaluation, research integrity, academic publishing and editorial development may find the programme particularly valuable. ASM explicitly encourages applications from researchers across all geographic regions and places special emphasis on individuals from groups underrepresented in the sciences. This makes the opportunity relevant to researchers seeking greater participation in international scientific publishing, including those working in regions with fewer opportunities for formal peer-review training. The supplied announcement does not specify detailed eligibility criteria, such as minimum academic qualifications, career-stage limits, degree requirements or membership conditions. Prospective applicants should consult the official application guidelines to confirm whether they meet all requirements.

Conditions et avantages

Participation offers several professional development benefits, including:

• Structured training in peer review and publication ethics.
• Practical experience evaluating scientific manuscripts.
• Individualised feedback from experienced journal editors.
• Mentorship and professional development discussions.
• Improved scientific writing, critical analysis and communication skills.
• Exposure to editorial responsibilities and potential future leadership opportunities.

The programme may be particularly useful for researchers who want to strengthen their academic profiles and contribute to more rigorous, ethical and inclusive scientific publishing. The announcement does not specify a stipend, salary, travel allowance or other financial support. Applicants should review the official programme information for any additional details about costs or participant benefits.

Dossier de candidature

• Application submission through the official mBio Early-Career Editorial Board page
• Application guidelines review

Comment postuler

Application period: 19 October 2026–11 December 2026. Programme term: Spring 2027 through summer 2028. Applicants should read the application guidelines carefully and submit their applications through the official mBio Early-Career Editorial Board page. The application status is listed as open in the supplied announcement. Applicants are encouraged to prepare their submissions early and review all official requirements before the closing date.