Data Editor for the Journal of eScience Librarianship (JeSLIB)

To apply for the Data Editor position, please send the following to Editor-in-Chief, Regina Raboin at Regina.Raboin@umassmed.edu by March 27, 2024:

1. Current résumé
2. Brief statement addressing interest in joining the JeSLIB editorial team and the responsibilities outlined below

Applications will be reviewed by the current JeSLIB Editorial Team. The preferred start date is June 1, 2024.

Please contact Regina Raboin at Regina.Raboin@umassmed.edu with any questions about the position or application process.

Background

The past few years have seen an increase in the implementation of policies and requirements for open data. Although this focus is primarily in the hard sciences, increasing data sharing practices are being seen in the social sciences and humanities as well.

With this growing focus on archiving and curating research data, along with promoting reproducible research, many journals are modernizing their policies to meet these practices.

Taking example from the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) who published their Data Sharing Policy in 2019, the Journal of eScience Librarianship (JeSLIB) is working to formalize a journal requirement for data sharing, aligning with the FAIR Data Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Additionally, JeSLIB is considering additional ways data professionals can engage with data and share their work beyond the traditional research article. Therefore, the journal seeks filling a brand new editor role to help develop this policy and oversee the work involved with reviewing articles including underlying data.

Position Description

The Journal of eScience Librarianship (JeSLIB) seeks a data librarian to join our editorial team as Data Editor. This new editor will oversee the journals’ strategy for archiving and curating research data and promoting reproducible research.

This two-year volunteer position, with the potential to extend beyond the initial term, will ensure that datasets accompanying manuscripts meet the submission guidelines and standards of good data management practice. Additionally, the Data Editor will work with the rest of the editorial team to establish policies and guidelines for the submission of data articles, papers describing research data, to JeSLIB.

Although the ultimate responsibility lies with authors, the Data Editor will verify:

• Data has been published in a repository
• Data has been well documented with accompanying documentation files
• A data availability statement has been included with the manuscript submission

As needed, the editor will work with authors to complete requirements detailed in the journal’s newly formalized data sharing policy. Time commitment for this position varies throughout the year depending on current projects and number of submissions. Regular commitments include: monthly editor meetings (1 hour) and periodic Editorial Board retreats (1-2 hours). Primary communication occurs through email and at meetings.

Criteria for Selection

Editor candidates should demonstrate potential institutional support or individual dedication for the time necessary to provide ongoing timely support of the journal if they were to be selected for the position.

Candidates should demonstrate strong organizational and communication skills and have an interest in, or experience with, the field of data services. No prior experience with publishing or data publication is required.

Although unpaid, JeSLIB hopes this experience will provide a launchpad for those interested in gaining journal publishing and editorial board experience.

Early career professionals are encouraged to apply, especially those individuals new to data librarianship who hold marginalized or underrepresented identities.

About JeSLIB

The Journal of eScience Librarianship (JeSLIB) (ISSN 2161-3974) is an open access, peer-reviewed journal advancing the theory and practice of librarianship focusing on services related to data-driven research in science, technology, engineering, math, social sciences, medicine, and public health. The journal launched in 2012 as a place to explore the many roles of librarians in supporting eScience and data services.

JeSLIB is a diamond open access journal, providing immediate open access to its content without subscription, submission, copy editing, or author fees. JeSLIB Editors believe making research freely available to the public best benefits research, scholars, education, and society.

JeSLIB is published by the Lamar Soutter Library, UMass Chan Medical School on the open source publishing platform Janeway, developed by the Centre for Technology and Publishing at Birkbeck, University of London.

The journal editors all have full time professional positions in addition to managing the Journal of eScience Librarianship. The journal does not provide compensation for editorial positions.

This project has been partially funded by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, initiated under Contract No. HHS-N-276-2011-00010-C with the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, and continued with partial funding from Cooperative Agreement Number UG4LM012347 with the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.

Editorial Team Data Editor open position