Working with the LSJM
Introduction
Working with us is an exciting opportunity to get thoroughly involved in the sometimes ominous world of academic publishing prior to qualifying as professionals. Our aim is to equip students (including ourselves) with the skills needed to write, edit and critique papers to a standard of highest quality.
The core editorial staff of the LSJM, comprises of students mainly from Universities in London. However, peer and expert reviewers as well as some panellists may be students from any recognised healthcare institution across the UK and internationally.
Please read the job descriptions below to see where you could join us. All roles have at least two vacancies in order to minimise work load. Working with the LSJM also provides an opportunity to meet and work alongside your counterparts from different institutions.
Section Editors (2 per section)
Applications for Section Editors have now closed. Re-opening in January 2010. Watch this Space!
Role: Due to the time commitments of most healthcare students, each Section of the LSJM has two editors. They take turns for overall responsibility of each quarterly issue. For instance, when Editor A is in charge of an up-coming issue, he/she will be Section Editor, and their partner Editor B the Associate Editor. This means that in a year, you would head two of the four quarterly issues and provide support for the other two.
The job is:
- Head of one of the six themed subsections of the LJSM
- Chairs monthly review meetings - to shortlist submissions
- Liaises with senior researchers/clinicians (so-called External/Expert Reviewers) on all articles
- Presents and discusses shortlist for publishing with Editors-in-Chief
- Corresponds with authors of shortlisted articles with the help of the Section Administrator
- Ensure authenticity of all accepted articles
- Must attend editorial meetings chaired by co-Editors-in-Chief
- May Recruit Peer and Expert Reviewers
- Receives correspondence from the Section Administrator
- Instructs Section Administrator on responses to submissions and general enquiries
Panellists (usually 5 per section)
Applications for Panellists in Medicine and Surgery are still open. E-mail co-ordinator@thelsjm.co.uk.
Role: Panellists are the core members of the various sections and the first point-of-call for submitted manuscripts. They would be expected to read the summaries of these submissions before monthly meetings where articles will be selected to proceed to review. Panellists may volunteer to appraise any of the selected articles.
Panellists:
- Contribute to the sections quarterly targets and issue ideas
- Recommend new Peer and Expert Reviewers
- Read articles prior to meeting - mainly the summaries of about 250 words
- Selection - Decide on interest and relevance of articles
- Check authenticity of all accepted articles
- Present and discuss shortlist for publishing with Section editor
- Must attend monthly review meetings chaired by Section editor - to shortlist submissions
As a panellist you may also write for other LSJM sections according to our in-house submission protocol, conduct interviews and contribute to the overall Journal machinery.
Administrators (usually 1 per section)
Applications for Administrators have now closed. Re-opening in January 2010. Watch this Space!
Role: Administrators provide technical and clerical support to their sections. They are also Panellists (role discussed above) with the following additional roles:
- Facilitates correspondence between authors, editors and the LSJM Executive
- Takes minutes and arranges section meetings
- Are the main point of call for enquiries regarding their section
Proof Readers (no restriction)
Applications for Proof Readers are now open. Please e-mail co-ordinator@thelsjm.co.uk for further details.
Though desirable, Proof Readers need not be healthcare students. We need students with a keen eye to read final proofs before they are featured in the upcoming issue.
Roles include:
- Reading accepted articles after they have been peer and expert reviewed and before they go to print
- Assessing articles adherence to the LSJMs submission requirements e.g. Vancouver referencing
- Alerting the Editors and Editors-in-Chief about potentially fraudulent manuscripts
University Representatives (usually 2 per institution)
Applications for University Reps are now open. Please e-mail co-ordinator@thelsjm.co.uk for further details.
Want to be the voice of the LSJM? We need energetic students to promote the LSJM at all healthcare Universities across the UK and Internationally.
Roles include:
- Promoting the LSJM at your university
- Encouraging students to submit to the LSJM
- Putting out promotional material
- Responding to enquiries at your university
- Recruiting Peer and Expert Reviewers form your institution to join the LSJM
- Liaising with the LSJM executive about relevant up-coming events at your university