In the ever-evolving landscape of academic publishing, few roles are as pivotal—and often underappreciated—as that of the editor and editorial team. Whether you’re a budding researcher, an experienced scientist, or an academic professional seeking to contribute to the scholarly community, understanding what it means to be an editor—and why it’s worth considering—is essential.
This article dives deep into who editors are, what editorial teams do, and the many benefits of being involved in editorial work.
What Is an Editor in Academic Publishing?
In academic publishing, the term “editor” refers to a group of individuals who collectively form the editorial team. This team ensures the quality, integrity, and relevance of published work. Editorial roles are not one-size-fits-all—different team members have different responsibilities, titles, and levels of decision-making power. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for both prospective editors and authors.
Here’s a breakdown of common editorial roles and their typical responsibilities:
1. Editor-in-Chief (EIC)
Also known as: Chief Editor, Executive Editor
The Editor-in-Chief is the highest authority within a journal’s editorial hierarchy.
Responsibilities:
- Sets the journal’s overall vision, scope, and direction.
- Establishes and enforces editorial policies and ethical standards.
- Makes final decisions on controversial or high-impact manuscripts.
- Oversees the performance and structure of the entire editorial board.
- Represents the journal in professional, academic, and publishing circles.
The EIC is often involved in strategic planning, partnerships, and major indexing efforts (e.g., Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science).
2. Managing Editor
Also known as: Editorial Manager, Journal Coordinator
While not always a scientific role, the managing editor is often the operational backbone of the journal.
Responsibilities:
- Coordinates manuscript tracking systems and peer review workflows.
- Manages timelines, communications, and editorial logistics.
- Ensures consistency in formatting, citations, and publishing standards.
- Acts as the point of contact between editors, reviewers, and authors.
This role is essential for journals aiming for efficient and timely publication.
3. Associate Editors (AEs) / Section Editors
Also known as: Deputy Editors, Domain Editors, Area Editors
Associate Editors are subject-area experts who handle manuscripts within their discipline.
Responsibilities:
- Perform initial screening (desk review) of submissions in their field.
- Select and invite peer reviewers.
- Make recommendations for revision, acceptance, or rejection.
- Ensure the scientific soundness and relevance of content.
Larger journals often assign Associate Editors by specialty, such as “Associate Editor for Neuroscience” or “Section Editor – Clinical Research.”
4. Editorial Board Members
Also known as: Advisory Board Members, Academic Editors
Editorial board members are recognized experts who support the journal’s mission, often in a more flexible or part-time capacity.
Responsibilities:
- Review submitted manuscripts periodically.
- Offer guidance on journal policies and emerging trends.
- Promote the journal in their academic circles and conferences.
- May suggest or solicit special issues or invited content.
Some editorial board members are more active than others, depending on the journal’s structure.
5. Review Editors / Scientific Editors
Used in some journals to denote editors who do not make final decisions but facilitate or contribute to the peer review process.
Responsibilities:
- Assess reviewer reports and help summarize key points.
- Make editorial recommendations based on review quality.
- Provide quality control checks on scientific rigor.
6. Guest Editors
Typically invited to curate special issues or thematic collections.
Responsibilities:
- Propose and define the topic for a special issue.
- Invite submissions and reviewers relevant to the theme.
- Oversee the peer review and editorial process for that issue.
- Write editorial introductions or commentary pieces.
Guest editors bring fresh perspectives and can enhance the journal’s reach into emerging areas.
7. Language or Technical Editors
Some journals employ specialists who handle clarity, grammar, formatting, or graphics.
Responsibilities:
- Edit manuscripts for language quality, especially for non-native English-speaking authors.
- Ensure consistency in style, references, and visual materials (e.g., figures, tables).
- Prepare manuscripts for typesetting and publication.
8. Ethics Editors / Compliance Officers (in large or biomedical journals)
These editors ensure adherence to ethical standards and may handle misconduct allegations.
Responsibilities:
- Monitor submissions for plagiarism, duplicate publication, or authorship issues.
- Investigate and manage ethical complaints.
- Guide authors on research reporting standards (e.g., CONSORT, PRISMA, COPE).
Editorial Hierarchies Vary
Not all journals use all these roles, and some roles may overlap. Smaller or niche journals may combine responsibilities (e.g., the Editor-in-Chief also serving as Managing Editor), while larger journals—especially high-impact ones—may have entire editorial departments with specialized titles.
Who Becomes an Editor?
Editorial roles are typically filled by:
- Experienced researchers or academics with a track record of publications.
- Domain experts in a particular field who are respected by their peers.
- Rising scholars looking to contribute meaningfully to their scientific community.
Some journals actively invite early-career researchers to take on junior editorial roles or join mentorship programs to build editorial experience.
What Are the Benefits of Being an Editor?
Editorial work is often voluntary, yet its impact on your career, knowledge base, and academic standing is profound. While it requires dedication and a commitment to academic integrity, the benefits of serving on an editorial team extend well beyond prestige—they are transformative across personal, professional, and societal dimensions.
Below, we unpack the key benefits in greater depth:
1. Deepen Your Expertise in Your Field
Serving as an editor immerses you in the latest research before it’s published. You regularly encounter studies that:
- Apply cutting-edge methods or novel designs.
- Challenge conventional theories.
- Reflect cross-disciplinary innovation.
You develop a sharper, broader, and more nuanced understanding of your field. Over time, this enhances not only your knowledge, but also your ability to identify trends, gaps, and future directions in research.
Long-term impact: Many editors evolve into thought leaders and strategic researchers because of their exposure to a wide spectrum of work.
2. Enhance Your Academic Profile and Career Opportunities
Being part of an editorial board is a strong signal of:
- Credibility — You’ve earned the trust of peers and institutions.
- Expertise — You have a deep understanding of your domain.
- Leadership — You are shaping the field, not just following it.
This can accelerate your path to tenure, grants, promotions, and conference invitations. Many academic institutions now consider editorial experience as a key component of research service and leadership during promotion reviews.
Therefore Include your editorial role on your CV, LinkedIn, ORCID, and institutional profile!
3. Expand and Strengthen Your Professional Network
Editors collaborate with:
- International scholars across disciplines.
- Reviewers with diverse methodological and theoretical lenses.
- Authors ranging from early-career researchers to seasoned scientists.
These relationships lead to future collaborations, mentorship opportunities, co-authorships, speaking engagements, and broader visibility in your academic community.
In the age of global science, networking as an editor gives you a strategic advantage, especially if you aim for multidisciplinary work or international funding.
4. Develop Critical Thinking and Peer Review Mastery
As an editor, you learn:
- How to identify methodological flaws and conceptual weaknesses.
- How to recognize inflated claims or poor statistical practices.
- How to distinguish between novelty and redundancy.
This critical lens strengthens your own writing and improves your success as an author and reviewer. You gain a 360° view of the publishing process, including how decisions are made and what reviewers and editors really look for.
Benefit: Your future submissions will be stronger, more targeted, and more likely to succeed.
5. Stay at the Forefront of Scientific Discovery
Editors routinely handle papers that explore:
- Emerging technologies.
- New frameworks and paradigms.
- Groundbreaking findings that may not yet be widely discussed.
This privileged access keeps you informed months—or even years—before key ideas become mainstream.
Stay ahead of the curve in your field, whether you’re preparing lectures, grant applications, or industry collaborations.
6. Influence and Shape the Scientific Agenda
Editors don’t just review research—they help set the direction of a discipline. You decide:
- Which manuscripts make it through peer review.
- Which special issues to launch.
- Which themes deserve more attention or urgency.
This influence allows you to advocate for:
- Underrepresented topics or populations.
- Ethical practices and transparency.
- Interdisciplinary or applied research that addresses real-world needs.
Impact: You become part of the engine that drives science forward in meaningful, responsible ways.
7. Gain Public and Professional Recognition
Many journals, including Conduct Science Journal and Conduct Science Proceedings, formally acknowledge their editorial teams such as by:
- Listing editors prominently on the website.
- Offering ORCID integration for credit and visibility.
- Issuing digital certificates or badges.
- Highlighting editorial contributions in newsletters or events.
This not only enhances your digital academic presence but also validates your role to your institution and peers.
Tip: Use these recognitions in grant applications and promotion dossiers.
8. Advance Scientific Integrity, Ethics, and Open Science
Editors are on the frontlines of maintaining scientific trust. You uphold:
- Ethical publishing standards (e.g., COPE guidelines).
- Rigor in methodology, data reporting, and transparency.
- Fairness and objectivity in the peer review process.
You may also help drive adoption of open science practices such as:
- Data sharing.
- Pre-registration.
- Transparent peer review.
In a world facing reproducibility crises and misinformation, your work as an editor directly contributes to the credibility of the scientific record.
9. Discover and Support Emerging Researchers
Editors are uniquely positioned to identify and nurture promising voices in science. Through fair and constructive peer review:
- You support early-career researchers who need guidance.
- You offer second chances to manuscripts with potential.
- You provide mentorship, feedback, and encouragement.
Being an editor makes you a steward of future science, not just a gatekeeper.
10. Open New Doors: Grants, Policy, Publishing, and Beyond
Editorial experience can lead to:
- Invitations to join grant review panels.
- Involvement in academic policymaking or standards committees.
- Consulting opportunities with publishers or nonprofits.
- Career paths in publishing, science communication, or administration.
Editorial work is a gateway to influential and often unexpected career directions.
In summary, becoming an editor is more than just an academic badge—it’s a professional transformation. Whether your goals are to refine your scholarship, increase your visibility, mentor others, or lead within your discipline, editorial experience is a powerful and rewarding way to get there.
How to Become an Editor
If you’re interested in editorial work, consider the following steps:
- Publish regularly and build credibility in your field.
- Volunteer as a peer reviewer to gain experience and demonstrate your judgment.
- Reach out to journal editors with a formal expression of interest and your academic CV.
- Participate in editorial workshops and training, many of which are offered by academic publishers or professional societies.
At Conduct Science, we actively welcome motivated researchers to join our editorial board. If you are interested in contributing to our mission of accessible, rigorous, and ethical science, contact us here.
Final Thoughts
Editors are not just gatekeepers; they are champions of science. They ensure that the research we read is robust, ethical, and impactful. Becoming part of an editorial team is one of the most enriching ways to contribute to the scientific community while advancing your own career.
Whether you’re an early-career scientist seeking to build your profile or an experienced academic looking to shape your field’s future, editorial work is a high-impact, high-reward path worth exploring.
