The Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) is looking for a Co-Editor-in-Chief to share leadership for its young open access journal, FEMS Microbes, for a first term of three years, starting in September 2025.

The FEMS Portfolio and FEMS Microbes: FEMS publishes seven journals with its publishing partner, Oxford University Press (OUP).  Both FEMS and OUP are not-for-profit organisations and work to benefit the broader communities in which they operate. FEMS journals are run by scientists, for scientists, for the benefit of the science, the scientists, and the wider community.

FEMS Microbes is an Open Access, broad scope microbiology journal, with an ambition to create a supportive journal specifically for early career scientists to read, publish, and contribute their research findings. FEMS Microbes welcomes both direct submissions and manuscripts transferred from other FEMS journals, including full-length research articles, reviews, and short reports of broad significance in the field of microbiology and related disciplines. All microbes are covered: bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, parasites, and viruses​.

FEMS Microbes endeavours to offer its authors a fast first decision and rapid publication, and is committed to fair and transparent peer review. It also actively recognises and encourages the contribution of early career scientists to peer review as part of its ambition to provide opportunities for career growth.

About the Role: The new Co-Editor-in-Chief will join the existing Editor-in-Chief team of three (replacing an outgoing Editor-in-Chief), the FEMS publications team, and OUP, to strengthen the focus of FEMS Microbes on supporting researchers’ careers. As the journal is growing, the incoming Editor-in-Chief will work within the wider team to shape and develop the trajectory of this journal.

The team is further supported by Handling Editors covering the journal’s broad scope.

About the Candidate: To strengthen the topic expertise within the Editor-in-Chief team, we are particularly looking for candidates active in the field of infectious diseases, host-pathogen interactions, and/or pathogenesis; but this should not discourage candidates with different expertise from applying.

We are looking for candidates who are keen to take on their first volunteer Editor-in-Chief role. Although peer support will be provided candidates must be able to show experience of publishing their own work in peer-reviewed journals, and must have previous experience of review and editorial work.

FEMS is looking for candidates who are passionate about giving back to the community and supporting other scientists as they grow their career, and are willing to work with the FEMS team to identify and implement changes to the way this journal (and the portfolio more broadly) can achieve that.

Application Process: Applications should be addressed to Sam Burrell, FEMS Interim Executive Publisher (sam.burrell@fems-microbiology.org), with your CV and a letter of motivation.

If you have any questions and / or would like to talk to the publications team at FEMS before applying, please get in touch at the same email address.

Ideally the new Co-Editor-in-Chief will be in post before the end of September, to allow for a handover period. Candidates will be interviewed on a rolling basis so early submissions of interest and applications are encouraged. Candidates will be interviewed via Zoom.

Deadline for applications: 15th July 2025