Society News

​Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions is seeking postdoctoral volunteers to fill "assistant feature editor" positions for a duration of two years. The application submission deadline is February 14, 2024.

MPMI is looking for creative, innovative communicators who are eager to volunteer their time to engage with both the scientific and nonscientific communities in accessible ways. As an assistant feature editor, you will be part of a journal editorial team, see the inner workings of the MPMI journal, develop a unique science communication project highlighting your talents, and interact with the diverse MPMI scientific community.

These positions, suitable for highly engaged postdoctoral fellows who would like to gain experience and behind-the-scenes knowledge of publishing in MPMI, involve development of multimedia (written, audio, video, etc.) communications within your areas of interest and mentorship in areas outside of your current lab environment. We anticipate a commitment of approximately 10–15 h/month, realizing that there will be some variability each month depending on the projects the assistant feature editor chooses.

MPMI values the diversity of our community and is seeking assistant feature editors who will contribute to equity and inclusion through their projects. A key role of assistant feature editors is amplifying the impact of our research publications through multimedia content creation, targeting different audiences in an inclusive way.

Assistant feature editors create their own niche based on their interests, skills, and ideas in diverse areas of nonscientific and scientific community engagement, including, but not limited to

• ​Writing online research summaries
• Highlighting articles on X (formerly Twitter) or other social media platforms
• Interviewing authors and working with our staff amplification specialist to write news stories and press releases for a nonscientific audience
• Writing MPMI commentaries highlighting articles published in MPMI
• Being mentored by MPMI senior editors in manuscript review

New assistant feature editors will likely contribute to current projects and tasks but are also encouraged to suggest and initiate novel ways to promote MPMI and its content.

Assistant feature editors work closely with the editor-in-chief and associate editor-in-chief, as well as with other senior editors and members of the journal marketing staff. These interactions, as well as interactions with authors and the greater community, provide additional opportunities for networking with scientists beyond the connections formed based on their research.

To apply, provide the following to MPMI Editor-in-Chief Tim Friesen:

• One-page cover letter outlining your research focus area and current position; expertise; and interest in this position, including the following areas as applicable to you:
• Experience with social media, writing, and other forms of communication
• Experience working to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within or outside the scientific community
• Engagement with aspects of science beyond your own research
• Participation in, or leadership of, communication projects for a nonscientific audience (describe the target audience and strategy for engagement)
• ​Current CV
• Contact details for two professional references
• A short, nontechnical communication sample based on any recent publication from the MPMI journal
  
  

Applications are due by February 14, 2024, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Apply today!