Over the last 140 years, the editorial team of the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) has played a pivotal role in shaping the field.
Under the editorial leadership of 12 esteemed scientists, JACS has grown from a monthly publication with a limited print circulation, into a weekly digital publication that is accessed globally.
JACS publishes the very best research across the chemical sciences, attracting the most citations of any chemistry-related journal in the world. As the journal looks to its future, the time has come for a new leader to take the helm: following his 18-year tenure, Professor Peter Stang will step down as Editor-in-Chief of the journal in December 2020.
Seeking a New Leader
The appointment of the new Editor-in-Chief for the American Chemical Society’s flagship journal is a task that is undertaken thoughtfully and with the respect that is warranted of such an esteemed position.
The selection of Editors of each of ACS Publications’ 60+ journals is a considered process. It begins with the formation of a diverse, experienced, and knowledgeable search committee that is tasked with identifying leading candidates from around the globe.
Candidates are thoroughly discussed and vetted before a finalist emerges. As with each ACS journal, the ACS Board of Directors approves the nomination to complete the search.
Share Your Views
The search committee has now been convened and is conducting the search in accordance with ACS Bylaws. In its desire to ensure a broad and diverse pool of candidates, the committee warmly welcomes candidate nominations from across the community.
The nomination deadline has now passed. Nominations are closed, but comments can still be added below.
All candidates will be reviewed by the committee, including nominations received through this process from across the broad chemistry community – thank you for your recommendations.
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Add a comment below with the characteristics you feel the next JACS Editor-in-Chief should embody!
Add a Comment
37 Comments
Matthew Hartings
10:35 amJACS is such an important publication for the chemistry community. It is necessary to find out what the new EIC’s vision for the journal is with respect to building on its identity.
1) Is JACS a journal that publishes what researchers feel are *currently the most important topics?
2) Is JACS a journal that publishes what researchers feel *will become the most important topics?
3) Is JACS a journal that publishes articles that spark conversations among chemists?
4) Is JACS a journal that publishes articles that build interest in a broader community?
These are not easy questions to answer. The EIC’s view on these questions will ultimately drive what articles are reviewed and which articles are passed on. The tone that the EIC sets in this regard needs to be open to the entire community (not just the associate editors).
For reference … see https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0194903
Dave Thirumalai
12:23 pmAs a computational chemist it is difficult not to notice that the number of Associate Editors with expertise
to handle submission in this area has declined. Consequently, in my view the papers in this growing area hardly get
published or even considered for review. Of course, chemistry is surely an experimental science (as are all physical sciences). Give JACS is a great journal I believe that the new Editor=in-Chief ought to be an experimentalist but with appreciation of the importance of computations.
Although I do not have an immediate recommendation I urge that the committee take my comment into consideration.
Best wishes Dave
Margarita I. Bernal-Uruchurtu
Response to Dave Thirumalai 1:05 pmI couldn’t agree more with your position. Computational chemistry coming of age has been thoroughly confirmed with many beautiful examples, some of them showcased in JACS itself, but yes, an editor with a deep understanding of the possibilities of this field will result in a broader scope and more exciting science.
Suman Chakrabarty
12:41 pmI recommend Professor Melanie S. Sanford to step up from being an associate editor to the editor-in-chief of JACS! She is someone who handles all submissions without bias and is perfectly suited with her years of experience being the associate editor to be the editor in chief.
Jennifer Schomaker
Response to Suman Chakrabarty 4:04 pmI completely agree Professor Sanford would be an outstanding choice!
Sanju Kanwar
Response to Jennifer Schomaker 2:00 amSanju sikar
GCF
Response to Suman Chakrabarty 6:52 pmI agree. Melanie Sanford is an ideal choice.
Bob Moriarty
1:25 pmHi Peter,
How quickly time goes by . Your service as “the Editor” will be remembered for long after Hypervalent Iodine disappears from the pages of our Journa.l
Bob
Ernest T. Rowland-Douglas
1:37 pmDoes interested candidates be nominated based on writing skills with versatile knowledge of science research or just been a member with advanced degrees?
acs.axial
Response to Ernest T. Rowland-Douglas 1:52 pmACS journal editors are independent, highly respected scientists who are active and widely published researchers, and who possess a global outlook.
robert bergman
3:01 pmAfter 140 years, I think it is time for a woman to serve as editor in chief. There are several people who I think would be outstanding editors, some of whom have served in associate editor roles or held other administrative positions. The people I can think of are Cynthia Burrows (Utah), Jennifer Schomaker (Wisconsin), Melanie Sanford (Michigan), Jaqueline Barton (Caltech) and Karen Goldberg (UPenn). I am sure you can look up their bios on their university websites.
G
Response to robert bergman 5:41 pmI agree. Also, JACS associate editors should limit their own manuscripts’ submissions to this journal.
Tiow-Gan Ong
Response to robert bergman 9:26 pmI totally agree with thought by Bob. Melanie Sanford will be fair person with a good knowledge to serve effectively. Nevertheless, Greg Fu will be also good choice, who can act impartially.
Lila Gierasch
Response to robert bergman 9:52 pmCindy Burrows would be fabulous if she would take this on!
Lila Gierasch
Response to robert bergman 8:01 amWhile several of the suggested women would be superb, I would like to give strong support to Cynthia Burrows’ potential candidacy.
KS Chan
8:32 pmG C Fu is an excellent choice.
Sjoerd Harder
3:41 amCompletely agree with Robert Bergman that it MUST be a women. Especially in this age. The names listed show that we are spoiled for choice! Thanks to Peter Stang for great service and looking forward to a new era. .
Minbale Admas Teshager
2:18 amJACS journal editors are expertise in a wide field of study,, highly respected scientists who are active and widely published researchers, and who possess a global outlook.
X
12:52 amPaul Weiss has been a wonderful EIC @ACS Nano
Ranjan Jana
1:46 amSince University of Utah has a long legacy to serve ACS and Professor Matthew S Sigman is serving as an Associate Editor for JACS since last 8 years, I think he could be a suitable choice. He is an extremely knowledgeable, dynamic person having worldwide collaboration to promote cutting-edge science globally.
Ashraful Islam
2:18 pmIt’s good job.
Sujit kumar sah
12:46 amNice
Margarita I. Bernal-Uruchurtu
1:09 pmA good leader for JACS should bring a broader scope of the exciting research happening in the many different fields of chemistry. It is time to have an editor with the ability to approach different fields with common subjects and encourage a deeper dialog among them. A new Editor means the possibility of fresh air, of new perspectives, of new blood. Let’s think of someone close to the ACS that might come from a different place than the USA.
Shankar Kendre
1:37 amNice
Z. Li
3:02 amI recommend Professor Youwen Liu from HUST to be an candidate to the editor-in-chief of JACS! He is someone who handles all submissions without bias.
Jean-Marie Lehn
9:28 amI endorse the proposals from Robert Bergman. I know Cindy Burrows well and would be particularly supportive of her candidacy
Halimah Oyero
1:23 amLovely
Ashmi mittal
10:42 amVery nice
Shivam
10:44 amNice
Hazrat bilal
1:18 amNice
Philipo michael
1:13 amGood
Farrukh Mehboob
3:42 pmVery nice
Mohmmad
10:34 amGood work
SR
5:27 pmProf. Phil Baran would be a great choice! He is really a rising leader in chemistry!
Atanu Jana
10:15 pmJACS should appoint a scientist who does not hold a permanent position in any academic institute.
c
11:54 amI strongly support the candidacy Cynthia Burrows! She’s amazing at ediorial work!
Cheng Qian
4:32 amRecommend Prof. Yaghi