Graduate Journal of Social Science

Update: The application process has been reopened. New deadline for applications is 10th April 2016.

The Graduate Journal of Social Science is a well-established peer-reviewed online journal with a strong international presence. The journal exists as a critical forum for discussion and exchange of ideas on interdisciplinary methodologies in the social sciences.

In March 2016, the current Editors in Chief, Arpita Das and Remi Joseph-Salisbury, will be stepping down from the role after two years overseeing the journal. We are looking for two enthusiastic, well-organised, and self-directed PhD students to take over the editorship of the GJSS from March 2016. Typically, students who take on the position are encouraged to oversee the journal for a minimum of two years during their doctorate studies. The position is time-consuming, but we have found it extremely rewarding; the role is fantastic for building organisational and academic skills, establishing new networks and working with authors, academics and students as well as other members of the GJSS team.

Before considering whether you wish to apply for this position, please familiarise yourself with the journal by looking at previous editions, our editorial board and associated information pages on our website. The current Editors in Chief will nonetheless oversee the transition process and introduce you thoroughly to the role.

Due to the high level of teamwork involved in the role of Editors in Chief, we are also very much open to teams of two people applying for the positions as familiarity with your co-editor can be invaluable.

Position Description

The Editors in Chief are responsible for:

• Working with and managing a large editorial team made up of fellow graduate students. This means liaising with web editors, design editors, book editors, the liaison officer, copy editors, student reviewers, academic reviewers and authors.
• The journal typically publishes three editions a year; one of these is a regular edition overseen by the Editors in Chief. The other two editions are special issues produced by guest editors, but are nonetheless closely overseen and guided by the Editors in Chief throughout the publication process.
• Planning and executing editions from the initial conceptualisation of an issue until its publication. This includes devising Calls for Papers, reviewing academic articles, arranging feedback for authors and publicising editions once published.
• Working effectively to set deadlines, organise timetables for each issue and manage tasks for different editions simultaneously.
• Excellent IT skills, with particular emphasis on email communication.
• The role involves establishing networks; this may also involve applying for funding for the journal, which is entirely volunteer-run.
• The Editors in Chief should be highly proficient in working with academic English.

While the journal aims to reflect current trends across the social sciences, the expertise and interests of editors are important in shaping the direction of the journal. As a means of extending the dynamism of the journal, we would be particularly interested in recruiting editors with a social science background and theoretical grounding in critical ‘race’, ethnicity and critical whiteness studies. However, we welcome applications from all academic fields. We would request that applicants give an indication of their own academic and theoretical background, as well as the direction in which they would take the journal. Previous experience working for the Graduate Journal of Social Science or another journal would be beneficial. Due to the collaborative and volunteer-led nature of the Graduate Journal of Social Science, we would also encourage applicants who share in the ethos of the journal.

Please send your CV and a motivation letter of two pages or less detailing your skills, your academic background and information on the theoretical direction in which you may like to take the journal to editors@gjss.org.

The extended deadline for applications is Sunday, 10th April 2016.

We look forward to working with you!

Best wishes,
Arpita Das and Remi Joseph-Salisbury
Chief Editors, GJSS