Much attention is given to early career researchers, and this makes a lot of sense – after all, it is vital to help the next generation of scientists and scholars start off in the right way, learn best practices and not be caught by any pitfalls in the research and publication process. However, that does not mean that experienced researchers should be overlooked! On the contrary, we now, more than ever, need to ensure that established researchers are supported with the fast-changing trends and challenges.
As an experienced researcher, your depth of knowledge, critical thinking, and methodological rigour are vital to the scientific and publishing worlds, as they show your commitment to the integrity and quality of both your research and manuscripts. Your expertise allows you to design robust studies, interpret complex data accurately, and identify subtle flaws or biases that less experienced individuals might overlook. In publishing, you play a crucial role as peer reviewers and editors, safeguarding the credibility of the scientific literature by upholding high standards of evidence and ethical practice. Moreover, your mentorship helps cultivate the next generation of researchers, fostering innovation and continuity in scientific progress.
As an established researcher, you will also balance the tasks mentioned above with your own continuous professional development. If you work in certain fields, such as medicine, you may even be required to provide evidence that you are maintaining your skills and knowledge at the cutting edge. At Springer Nature, we are incredibly grateful and appreciative for the work our experienced researchers contribute – not only are their publications more likely to constitute a major advance, but their work as editors is critical to developing journals and placing them at the forefront of their fields.
Which of the following Springer Nature training resources might be useful for a experienced researcher who is interested in developing their skills further and becoming an Editor?
A: Research ethics
B: Code of Conduct for Journal Editors
C: Writing in English
D: Citation manipulation
E: Identity verification
F: Predatory Publishers
Image description: A man sits in front of a laptop, books and clipboard looking deep in thought.
The correct answers are A, B, D and E! Although there are no wrong answers here – anything you want to know more about can be useful.
- Researchers who are looking to start an editor role will find the Journal Editors’ Code of Conduct particularly useful to give them an overview and understanding of the tasks and requirements. All Editors joining Springer Nature are asked to take this course as part of their onboarding, and it outlines the standards to which Editors are expected to adhere.
- The Research Ethics courses are useful for anyone wanting to know more about editorial considerations in the context of human ethics and consent, animal ethics, internet research and trial registration. They can be especially useful if you are in a field where these are used but you do not personally have experience with them, or for those working in a multidisciplinary journal.
- Citation Manipulation provides insights into the rising issues with problematic citation practices being seen by editors. Attempts to artificially boost profiles with unnecessary citations are becoming more common, and have been linked to the rise of paper mills and other fraudulent services.
- Identity Verification takes editors through digital identity verification best practice, with a step-by-step guide that supports them in ensuring that a potential new collaborator is who they claim to be and avoiding issues associated with “bad actors” entering the peer review process.
Writing in English is a great resource for those looking to strengthen their skills in this area, but it is not specifically useful in developing editorial skills. Our Predatory Publishers course is written primarily for early career researchers, although it may help experienced researchers avoid being recruited as an Editorial Board Member by a journal with poor publication practices!
We encourage you to take any courses you feel would be useful, they are all free to take, currently open to anyone to take and most give certificates for completion. If there are topics you would like to see covered then don’t hesitate to let us know or take our survey for researchers - we welcome feedback and suggestions!