Call for Applications: Raelyn Cole Editorial Fellowship with the ASLO Publications

Call for Applications: Raelyn Cole Editorial Fellowship with the ASLO Publications

Announcements, Publications, RCEF /

 

Program description

The Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) announces a fifth call for applications for the Raelyn Cole Editorial Fellowship (RCEF). The Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for early-career aquatic scientists to expand their experiences in scientific writing, editing, publishing and outreach. Raelyn Cole was Managing Editor of ASLO’s Flagship journal, Limnology and Oceanography, from 1965 to 1996. In her honor, ASLO established the RCEF Fund in 2015. Dale Cole and family made a generous gift as an initial contribution to establish this fund, and ASLO provides a matching donation.

During their two-year Fellowship appointment, RCE Fellows will encounter most aspects of the editorial and publishing processes by interacting with the Editors-in-Chief (EIC) of the ASLO publications: Limnology and Oceanography, Limnology & Oceanography Letters, Limnology and Oceanography Methods, and Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin.  Fellows also interact with Associate Editors and with current and past Raelyn Cole Fellows.

The program's goals are to:

  • Provide professional development for early-career aquatic scientists with strong interests in scientific publishing, open-access publishing, peer review, and scientific writing.
  • Provide opportunities to experience editorial and publishing processes to prepare them for future contributions as effective writers, reviewers, and editors.
  • Provide opportunities to explore personal interests in some aspect of scientific writing, editing and publishing.
  • Incorporate the perspectives and unique professional challenges of Early Career Researchers into the management of the ASLO publications.

You can learn about the RCEF and how these goals have been met by current and past Fellows: https://www.aslo.org/opportunities-in-aslo/raelyn-cole-editorial-fellowship/

 

Fellows Stipend and Other Benefits

  • $1,500 annual stipend
  • Complimentary membership in ASLO during the two Fellowship years
  • Travel support to one ASLO-sponsored meeting annually
  • Travel support to the annual ASLO Editors’ Strategy Day at Wiley Publishers, located in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA (remote attendance may be possible)

 

Expectations of RCE Fellows

  • Lead and organize the agenda of monthly virtual meetings with the current Fellows and the RCEF program director; typically, the EICs of the ASLO publications also participate in these meetings.
  • Working with the RCEF Program Director, develop an individual plan for the Fellowship experience.
  • Show initiative in using the Fellowship opportunity to explore topics of special interest to the Fellow.
  • Share their experiences and the knowledge gained, e.g., via social media posts, blogs, articles in the Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin, conference workshops, webinars or other virtual events.
  • Attend and participate in annual strategy meetings with the Wiley publishing staff, ASLO Editors, and the ASLO leadership team.

 

Eligibility

Applicants must have completed their PhD at least one year, and no more than six years, before the application deadline. Candidates with special circumstances can request a waiver of this requirement. Applicants may be in any professional position and in any sub-discipline related to limnology or oceanography. Applicants should have published 3 or more peer-reviewed articles as first author. Applicants should have served as a reviewer for at least 2 manuscripts submitted to peer-reviewed journals.

 

How to Apply

Please submit the following by email ([email protected]) to Dr. Paul Kemp, RCEF Program Director, by September 1, 2025.

  • Current Curriculum Vita
    • The selection committee will be interested in evidence of initiative, leadership, and engagement (e.g., mentoring, public outreach, professional service, team leadership, organization of meetings or sessions)
  • A brief description of your scientific area of expertise and research interests (250 words maximum)
    • This information is requested to assist with identifying possible opportunities of interest to the Fellow.
  • Two written statements addressing the following (800 words maximum, each):
    • How would you use the opportunities provided by this Fellowship to enhance your professional development, share your experiences with others, and advance ASLO’s mission? (ASLO fosters a diverse, international scientific community that creates, integrates and communicates knowledge across the full spectrum of aquatic sciences, advances public awareness and education about aquatic resources and research, and promotes scientific stewardship of aquatic resources for the public interest.)
    • In your opinion, what is the state of science publishing (e.g., what is working well and what is not, what are the current challenges to the publishing landscape), and how could your position as Fellow contribute to resolving these challenges?
  • A manuscript review that you provided for a peer reviewed journal. Ideally, a review should include an overall assessment, identify strengths and weaknesses, and provide guidance for editors and authors. Please remove all information that might identify the article, journal, reviewer, or author.

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee comprising members of the ASLO publications team, and past Raelyn Cole Fellows. A short-list of candidates will be interviewed by videoconference. Two Fellows will be selected by early 2026, with the first to begin 1 April 2026 and the second to begin 1 April 2027. The Fellowship appointment is for a 2-year period.

 

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