Expressions of Interest

Australian Journal of Zoology is seeking Associate Editors to join the editorial board. The journal focuses on Australasian fauna but also includes high-quality research from any region that has broader practical or theoretical relevance or that demonstrates a conceptual advance to any aspect of zoology. Subject areas include, but are not limited to: anatomy, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, reproductive biology, developmental biology, parasitology, morphology, behaviour, ecology, zoogeography, systematics and evolution. Australian Journal of Zoology is published by CSIRO Publishing. Editors-in-Chief determine the publishing strategy of the journal, and lead a team of Associate Editors to manage the peer review process of papers received by the journal. 

Associate Editors have responsibility for handling manuscripts and determining the suitability of manuscripts for publication. Each Associate Editor may receive approximately 5-10 manuscripts per year. Responsibilities include closely scrutinising manuscripts; selecting appropriate reviewers; reading and assessing reviewer reports; making a preliminary recommendation to the Editor-in Chief (EiC); reading a revised manuscript and author responses to reviewer comments; overseeing possible further peer review and revision; and making a final recommendation to the EiC. Associate Editors correspond with the Editors-in-Chief and the Publisher about difficult decisions and possible ethical concerns.  

Associate Editors have editorial support from CSIRO Publishing, including access to the web-based editorial management system and Editorial Assistant. Associate Editors have support from the EiC and the Publisher and through resources offered by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to assist with the complexities of peer review.  

Specific responsibilities include:  

• Ensuring high standards of publication ethics are followed to make certain the Journal meets its commitment as a member of the COPE.
• Being willing to handle a wide range of manuscripts.
• Managing timely, rigorous and constructive peer review of manuscripts submitted by a diverse range of appropriately chosen reviewers, while maintaining confidentiality.
• Acting as a proactive reviewer for the journal, as requested by an EiC.
• Promptly recommending rejection of manuscripts, without recourse to reviewers’ comments, where they are clearly outside scope, not new or significant, or are unsound (i.e., insufficient data to support conclusions, poor experimental technique).
• Commissioning content contributions to the Journal in consultation with the EiCs (for example, Special Content Collections).
• Excusing yourself from handling any manuscript with which a conflict of interest or a relationship may bias treatment of the manuscript under consideration.
• Corresponding with reviewers and authors, in a courteous, respectful and timely manner.
• Assessing, in consultation with the EiCs and the Publisher, any ethical concerns that may arise from time-to-time, including plagiarism, and working within COPE guidelines to resolve them.
• Making recommendations on manuscripts (i.e., revise, recommend, accept, reject), with comprehensive reasoning provided to the EiC and authors.
• Where appropriate, submitting original contributions to the Journal that will undergo the same rigorous peer review as other submissions to the Journal.
• Representing and advocating for the journal to the research community at national and international conferences, on visits to key institutions/laboratories, etc.
• Attending Editorial meetings in person or online, where possible
• Advising authors on promoting their work via CSIRO Publishing’s resources.  

Please send applications (including Curriculum vitae and short statement expressing your interest in the role) to Rebecca Ciezarek, AJZ Journal Manager – Rebecca.ciezarek@csiro.au.