Herpetology Notes in 2023

Herpetology Notes (HN) produced among the highest number of published pages in herpetology, and all articles are released as Open Access contributions to allow maximum visibility. In order to do this, we have an editorial team of volunteer Associate Editors, who are supported by copyeditors and layout editors under contract with the Societas Europaea Herpetologica. This business model allows us to work without subscriptions and to keep the costs of high-quality Open Access publication at a minimum. Alas, this has worked so well that HN needs some more help during its current expansion to ensure that all submissions are dealt with in a timely fashion. This is where you come in!

In the post-COVID landscape of herpetological research, there have been a lot of shifts in how work is done, and many are looking for opportunities to enter into the academic mainstream. A volunteer position with HN provides some exposure to research globally while it hones an individual's editorial skills. Managing Editors have specific portfolios under the supervision of the Editor-in-Chief. Associate Editors receive manuscript assignments, send them out for review, and edit them according to journal style once a submission has been accepted. Candidates for these positions should be in PhD programs or hold PhD degrees (or equivalent), have some publishing experience (five papers in international peer-reviewed journals with significant input into research, writing, and manuscript preparation), and should be willing to commit to a 2-year tenure. We are looking for:

The Managing Editor for Operations (MEO) deals with the editorial aspects of the journal. The MEO:

• recruits, evaluates, and appoints new Associate Editors;
• ensures that the contact information of Associate Editors is up-to-date on the website;
• notes which Associate Editors dealt with how many manuscripts; 
• updates author instructions as needed;
• refreshes and updates the text of emails the system generates, as needed;
• compiles a detailed set of topics for which Associate Editors are qualified to conduct reviews;
• tallies our output in terms of published pages and reviewed manuscripts; 
• produces an annual editorial report (by calendar year);
• completes any other tasks related to the operations of the editorial side

The Managing Editor for Technology (MET) handles all tasks associated with how HN appears on the Biotaxa website and on social media. The MET:

• really learns the website, by visiting all parts of the website and disabling aspects we don't use;
• checks and updates metadata (e.g., authors, manuscript titles) so that the display of papers on the website is homogeneous;
• creates a social media presence in conjunction with SEH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram;
• produces an annual website report (by calendar year);
• writes a bi-monthly announcement for the home page to promote key published papers;
• makes suggestions for how the editable portions of the website can be improved;
• coordinates with SEH to place all past papers of Herpetology Notes on an accessible site;
• completes any other tasks related to the technology aspect of Herpetology Notes.

TWO Associate Editors with a geographic focus on North and/or Central America

TWO Associate Editors with a geographic focus on sub-Saharan Africa

ONE Associate Editor with a geographic focus on the Palearctic Realm

ONE Associate Editor with a geographic focus in the Neotropics

ONE Associate Editor with a geographic focus in Southeast Asia

If you are interested, or know of someone who might be a good fit for any of these positions, please send an email to Dr. Hinrich Kaiser, Editor-in-Chief, at herpetologynoteseditor@gmail.com. THANK YOU for considering this request!

With best wishes for 2023,

Hinrich