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BERA has an exciting opportunity for two enthusiastic academic editors who will manage a new book feature in Research Intelligence. The Book Feature Editors will work with BERA’s Publications Manager to select appropriate books for the feature and commission content for publication in the magazine.

BERA particularly encourages early career researchers to apply for this position, as it provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about academic publishing and gain editorial experience.

About Research Intelligence

Research Intelligence is BERA’s quarterly magazine. It carries announcements and news, as well as articles and features on a variety of topics related to educational research. Recent themes have included Practitioner Research; Staff Wellbeing in Education; Pandemic, Protests, Recovery, Opportunities; and Education for Environmental Sustainability. The magazine is free for BERA members and paid subscriptions are also available.

About the book feature 

BERA intends to introduce the book feature to Research Intelligence in 2024. There will be one book feature in each issue of the magazine, amounting to four features a year. A single page in length, the feature will present a newly published book relating to educational research. It will include a short critical perspective on the book and an interview with its author(s). Books may be put forward by academic publishers or selected independently by the Book Feature Editors. The critical perspective and interview questions will be written by a scholar, practitioner or policymaker with expertise relevant to the chosen book.

The opportunity

We are looking for two educational researchers, ideally early career researchers, with some experience of contributing to academic publications. Applicants will need to have a keen understanding of the educational research landscape in the UK and a sense of the current themes and topics that would be of interest to readers of Research Intelligence. They will need to be confident to collaborate with a range of colleagues, including scholars at all levels, as well as academic publishers.

The Book Feature Editors will be expected to:

• Commit to managing the content of four book features a year. Each Editor will take the lead on two of these features, with the support of their Co-Editor.
• Work with BERA’s Publications Manager to select relevant books for the features, liaising with academic publishers where needed.
• Identify, approach and secure a scholar, practitioner or policymaker with expertise relevant to the chosen book to write the critical perspective and interview questions.
• Review the text for each book feature, ensuring content is suitable, high quality and accurate.
• Provide feedback to the writer of the feature and support them with any necessary revisions.
• Correspond with feature writers, book authors and publishers as required through the editorial process.
• Adhere to strict issue schedules and deadlines as advised by BERA’s Publications Manager.

As part of our wider commitment to greater equality and diversity at all levels of the organisation, we especially welcome applications from candidates with a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background.

This opportunity is open to applicants based outside of the UK, but BERA is unable to offer reimbursement for any international travel that may be required for the editor to attend in-person meetings related to the magazine.

How to apply

To apply, please click ‘Apply Now’ at the top of this page. You will need to provide a CV (maximum 3 pages) and a brief account (maximum 500 words) explaining why you are interested in this role and what you would bring to it.

Applications close at 5pm on Monday 14 August 2023.

Ongoing BERA membership will be required of the Book Feature Editors. Applicants must be BERA members at the time of application or commit to becoming members if appointed.

If you would like to discuss the role further prior to application, please contact Hannah Marston, BERA’s Publications Manager, on publications@bera.ac.uk.