Careers clinic: The science of publishing

A career in academic publishing is a good option for those who want to leave the lab but stay in science, explains Charlotte Ashley-Roberts

Q: I am in my final year of university and I am thinking about my future career options. I don't want to work in industry but I still want a job that involves using my scientific knowledge. I've heard that publishing might be interesting. What opportunities are available and what skills do I need?

A: Publishing is a huge industry, covering research journals, books, magazines, databases and directories as well as electronic media. As a chemistry graduate, the skills and knowledge you possess mean you are particularly well suited to academic publishing, which focuses on publishing current research papers.  

Academic publishing can be a great way to use your technical knowledge and stay involved in science while moving away from the laboratory. It can also allow you to gain a broader knowledge of science if you work in an area outside of your specialism. 

Publishing work

In terms of roles and careers there are quite a few to choose from but the roles I am most commonly asked about are assistant editors, copy editors and commissioning editors. 

Assistant editors provide input into and help implement the development strategy of journals. They work with authors, inviting them to publish in a journal as well as identifying trends in publications to discover scientific and geographical areas for development. This can also involve a lot of travelling - going to conferences and universities to keep up-to-date with research and meet with academics. 

Copy editors and proofreaders make sure that the texts due for publication flow well and are well written, that they are grammatically correct and that they are accessible. Again, the day to day tasks will depend on the organisation but you may be asked to correct basic spelling, typos and grammatical errors or to check facts or scientific content. For copy editing you may also need to rewrite sections.  

Commissioning editors work most commonly in books publishing and they identify products to build up a publisher's list. They find authors or respond to proposals and ensure that authors deliver their texts to specification and to deadline. They may also commission writers to write features or articles for magazines or journals. Commissioning editor is a mid to senior level post and is likely to result from promotion or from having suitable experience and ability.  

Getting accepted

For scientific publishing, a good science degree is usually a minimum requirement. Although a PhD may be asked for in some cases, it is not always essential. In your application you should highlight both your technical knowledge and any relevant transferable skills you may have such as attention to detail, time management, organisation and problem solving. Providing examples of team working and communication will also be essential. 

If you are interested in getting into this type of career then getting some work experience will be beneficial. Many employers look for previous experience in editing or writing. You could find this type of internship through summer placements or perhaps working on your university magazine or paper. You should keep a portfolio of work you have done - this may be through any formal work experience or it could be from something external you have done such as writing a blog.  

Work experience and internships are rarely advertised so it would be useful to contact specific organisations to find out if they have any available. There are some publishing organisations who offer formal schemes. These are usually advertised on university careers service boards or websites such as Bookcareers or the The Society of Young Publishers.  

For chemistry publishing roles the RSC publishing graduate scheme is interesting as it is the only graduate route into chemistry journals publishing. Over the course of a year, graduates receive a structured programme of training and development, as well as lots of on-the-job support. The training and development will help develop skills you may not have got at university, in areas like business awareness, influencing and negotiating with others. Graduates are also given a mentor to help guide them through their day-to-day life in their role and at the RSC in general.  

You can get more information on the RSC's graduate scheme and apply to join through our website. If you are successful in your application, you will be invited to an assessment day that consists of a group exercise, a written exercise and of course an interview.