Applied Microbiology International (AMI) has launched a recruitment drive for Junior Editors and Junior Reviewers as part of its mission to nurture early career talent.
Applications are now invited for the Letters in Applied Microbiology (LAM) Early Career Editor & Reviewer Training Programmes 2026-7 - the second cohort of junior editors in this programme.
”Our vision for LAM is to be the journal that supports and develops the next generation of applied microbiologists. We are looking to focus on early career researchers and be accessible and inclusive. As such, we have developed the structure of the board to enable us to train the editors of the future,” said AMI Head of Publishing Kathryn Spiller.
‘It’s been an eye-opener’
Dr Thomas Thompson, of Queen’s University Belfast, who was among the first tranche of LAM Junior Editors said he was surprised by the sheer variety of topics he had encountered.
”Microbiology is such a vast field, and the breadth of work we assess has exposed me to areas I wouldn’t have typically engaged with in my own research. It’s been an eye-opener in terms of the diversity and interdisciplinarity within the field, which is something I hadn’t fully appreciated until I was in this role,” he said.
Professor Silvani Verruck of Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, another current Junior Editor, said: “The role has been a great learning experience. I’ve gained hands-on experience in manuscript evaluation, peer review coordination, and the ethical considerations behind publishing. I also learned to critically assess research from diverse fields and gained insight into the editorial process from submission to publication.
Opening up opportunities
“The role has opened up opportunities for networking with leading researchers and editors in my field. It has also enhanced my writing and reviewing skills, which has been invaluable for my own research publications. Additionally, it has strengthened my ability to evaluate research critically, a skill I can apply across many areas of my career.”
The junior editor role is an academic editorial role, to be carried out alongside their full time academic/research post.
Each junior editor will work with their mentor, a Senior Editor, to learn how to handle papers through the peer review process, from submission through to decision, in an efficient and fair way, upholding the highest ethical standards and striving to give all authors the best experience in their interactions with LAM.
It’s anticipated that they will handle 15-25 papers per year, as well as actively participating in editorial board meetings, contributing ideas and acting as an ambassador for the journal within their community.
Junior Editor places
AMI is offering 14 Junior Editor places which will run for two years from January 2026 - December 2027.
We are seeking candidates who:
- · are active researchers and hold a current position in a university or research institute
- · have completed a PhD within the last six years (career breaks will be taken into consideration, please give details)
- · have published at least one article in a reputable academic journal
- · have expertise in one of the following topics within applied microbiology:
Antimicrobials, antimicrobial resistance, biofilms, infectious diseases, infection control, foodborne pathogens, gut microbiome, food production & safety, fermentation, functional foods, probiotics, environmental microbiology, biodegradation/bioremediation, biogeochemical cycling, water quality, public health microbiology, agricultural microbiology, soil microbiology, plant microbiology.
Recruiting Junior Reviewers
AMI is also recruiting seven Junior Reviewers. This is an academic editorial role, to be carried out alongside a full time academic/research post.
Each Junior Reviewer will work with their mentor, a Senior Editor, to learn how to review papers in a thorough, efficient and fair way, upholding the highest ethical standards and striving to give all authors the best experience in their interactions with LAM. We expect that you will review 1-2 papers per month throughout the two-year programme.
We are seeking candidates who
- · are active researchers with a current university or research institute affiliation
- · from final year PhD to within 3 years post PhD (career breaks will be taken into consideration, please give details)
- · have expertise in one of the following topics within applied microbiology:
Antimicrobials, Antimicrobial resistance, biofilms, infectious diseases, foodborne pathogens, food production & safety, fermentation, functional foods, probiotics, environmental/water microbiology, Agricultural microbiology, soil microbiology, plant microbiology
Programme benefits
We encourage applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds from across the globe. Benefits include:
- Free AMI membership for the duration of the programme
- Free registration for the LAM Early Career research Symposium
- A certificate at completion of training from AMI
Established in 1985, Letters in Applied Microbiology (LAM) is owned by AMI. The journal is hybrid and publishes research and reviews in the broad field of applied microbiology.
LAM is published with our publishing partner, Oxford University Press, under the editorial leadership of Dr Marcela Hernández, Editor-in-Chief.
To find out more about the roles and how to apply, click HERE. Applications are due by Thursday 18th September.
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