Associate/Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Optical Physics)

Job title: Associate or Senior Editor (optical physics)

Organisation: Nature Communications

Location: New York, Jersey City, Philadelphia, Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Milan or Madrid (Hybrid working model)

Closing date: 28th March 2025

About Springer Nature Group
Springer Nature opens the doors to discovery for researchers, educators, clinicians and other professionals. Every day, around the globe, our imprints, books, journals, platforms and technology solutions reach millions of people. For over 180 years our brands and imprints have been a trusted source of knowledge to these communities and today, more than ever, we see it as our responsibility to ensure that fundamental knowledge can be found, verified, understood and used by our communities – enabling them to improve outcomes, make progress, and benefit the generations that follow.

About The Brand

Nature Portfolio is a flagship portfolio of journals, products and services including Nature and the Nature-branded journals, dedicated to serving the scientific community. Nature Research is the world’s leader in publishing high-quality research from across the natural sciences. Its journals include Nature, the Nature Research journals, the Nature Reviews journals and Nature Communications.

Nature Communications is the leading multidisciplinary Open Access journal, publishing high-quality scientific research. To help us to build on the success of this journal, we’re seeking a scientist with a strong background in optical physics and photonics, who has a critical eye, a deep understanding of their subject and interests beyond, and who can think on their feet.

About the Role

The Associate/Senior Editor role at Nature Communications is ideal for researchers who love science but feel that a career at the bench isn’t enough to sate your desire to learn more about the natural world and for those who enjoy reading papers outside their chosen area of research.

This role can be located in our New York, Jersey City, Philadelphia, Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Milan or Madrid. The position is offered on a full-time, permanent basis.

The responsibilities include:

• Handling original research papers, and working closely with other editors on all aspects of the editorial process, including manuscript selection and overseeing peer review.
• Making well-reasoned editorial decisions on submitted manuscripts in the light of expert advice.
• Determining the representation of their subject in the journal.
• Liaising extensively with editors at other journals in the Nature family and with experts in the international scientific community.
• Attending conferences and visiting research institutions.

To be considered for the position, you will have:

• A PhD (or equivalent) in optics and photonics. This could include but is not limited to topological photonics, optical and photonic material, non-linear optics, and laser physics.
• Some postdoctoral research experience is preferred but not essential. A thorough understanding of the fundamentals of the subject is essential.
• A passion for science and a thirst to learn more. You must be able to demonstrate the breadth of your interest in scientific research, both within and beyond your speciality and across the wider field of both fundamental and applied optics and photonics ranging from energy, metrology, information technology, security, and healthcare.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be fluent in English (written and spoken).
• The ability to read and assess the novelty, context and implications of research submitted to the journal from different areas of this discipline.
• Be eager to travel and meet scientists worldwide, learn more about them and their research, and help them learn more about us and what we are looking for in the papers we seek to publish.

Editorial experience is not required, although applicants with significant editorial experience are encouraged to apply and will potentially be considered for Senior Editor positions.

At Springer Nature, we value the diversity of our teams and work to build an inclusive culture, where people are treated fairly and can bring their differences to work and thrive. We empower our colleagues and value their diverse perspectives as we strive to attract, nurture and develop the very best talent.

If you have any access needs related to disability, neurodivergence or a chronic condition, please contact us so we can make all necessary accommodation.

US employees are eligible for benefits including, but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, life and AD&D insurance, tuition assistance, employee assistance program, paid vacation and sick time, flexible spending accounts, and a 401k retirement savings plan.

In order to comply with various pay transparency laws and legislations in the United States, the salary range and benefits for this position are included. This information is only applicable to US-based candidates and the actual salary offer may vary based on work experience, education, skill level and equity. Salary ranges differ by country due to various local market considerations. The US salary range does not align with the salary ranges in other countries when converted to the currency of that country.

US Annualized Base Salary Range: Associate Editor: $80,000 / Senior Editor: $95,000.

For more information about career opportunities in Springer Nature please visit our career page.