Call for Applications for Editor-in-Chief
Applications in Plant Sciences


Dear BSA Members,

The Botanical Society of America (BSA) is soliciting applications for the position of Editor-in-Chief of Applications in Plant Sciences (APPS), the Society’s first fully Open Access journal, dedicated to the rapid dissemination of newly developed, innovative tools and protocols in all areas of the plant sciences. The five-year term will begin in early 2022. Both direct applications and nominations of others are welcomed.

After more than 10 years of service to the journal, Dr. Theresa Culley, who helped to launch APPS in 2013 as its first Editor-in-Chief, will be stepping down. Under her guidance, the international readership and authorship of the journal have grown, and its impact factor has steadily increased. 


The BSA seeks a successor for this key leadership role. We seek an individual who:

  • Has vision, dedication, and a desire to lead a young and growing plant methods journal into its next decade;
  • Possesses a strong sense of integrity and adheres to professional and scientific ethical standards;
  • Is committed to supporting open science, including open data;
  • Has a proven publication record and an extensive network of contacts in the botanical sciences;
  • Is able to lead and develop the editorial board and communicate effectively and diplomatically with authors, reviewers, the broader botanical community, and the editorial office team;
  • Has previous editorial experience as an editorial board member, guest editor, or associate editor;
  • Is willing to serve as an ambassador for the journal;
  • Demonstrates a commitment to the BSA’s goals with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion.


Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief include:

  • Help to shape and develop the journal’s vision, scope, and strategic direction in a competitive and fast-changing publishing environment;
  • Define and maintain editorial standards and policies, in cooperation with the editorial board and the BSA Publications Committee;
  • Continue to develop and maintain a strong, diverse, and international editorial board, including providing guidance to editors and appointing new editors as needed;
  • Work to expand the author and reviewer pools to include a diversity of voices and perspectives, both in international scope and in inclusion of underrepresented groups;
  • Work closely with the APPS Recruiting Editor to increase high-quality submissions by identifying and inviting potential authors, both for individual submissions and for special themed issues;
  • Oversee the peer review process and deliver decisions to authors in a timely manner, in collaboration with the Managing Editor and handling editors, using the editorial office’s online manuscript submission and peer review system;
  • Represent and promote APPS at conferences and through professional networks to increase visibility of the journal and encourage submissions;
  • Write editorials to address topics of importance to APPS readers;
  • Lead editorial board meetings and other journal-related meetings as needed.


The Editor-in-Chief will be assisted by a professional staff, including the APPS Managing Editor, the BSA Director of Publications, and the editorial and production teams at Wiley, as well as a dedicated volunteer Editorial Board and Early Career Advisory Board.

The Editor-in-Chief receives an annual honorarium and works in collaboration with the BSA’s Executive Director, APPS Managing Editor, the BSA Director of Publications, the BSA Director-at-Large for Publications, the BSA Publications Committee, and the BSA Executive Committee.

APPS is published by the Botanical Society of America, in partnership with Wiley. For more information on APPS, visit the journal website:
https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/21680450.

Applications are due November 12, 2021. If you would like to nominate someone, please reach out to the committee by Friday, October 8 with your nominee’s name and email address, so that we can contact the nominee and offer sufficient time to submit an application by the deadline. Applications and nominations should be sent to apps@botany.org.


Applicants should please send a CV and a cover letter that includes the following:

  1. Details of your editorial experience and why you are interested in the position.
  2. Answers to the following questions:
    1. What is your vision for APPS over the next 3-5 years?
    2. How would you promote the journal, and how would you increase its international reach, visibility, and authorship?
    3. What topic areas would you be excited to see the journal expand into, and why?


If you have questions or comments, please contact apps@botany.org.

APPS Editor-in-Chief Search Committee: Emily Sessa (Chair), Joyce Chery, Karolina Heyduk, Amy McPherson, Mike Moore, Beth Parada, Pam Soltis, and Norm Wickett.