Two workshops are planned for JSM 2016 in Chicago that are designed for new researchers to develop capabilities for research publication. The Writing Workshop for New Researchers continues the series of workshops in which each participant receives individual mentoring by an experienced journal editor. Additionally, the new Review and Edit Workshop will be offered by a team of executive editors of leading journals to junior researchers as they take up new responsibilities for reviewing technical articles and joining the ranks of associate editors.
Writing Workshop for New Researchers
The goal of the Writing Workshop for New Researchers is to provide instruction for writing journal articles and grant proposals. Participants will be required to provide a recent sample of their writing, which will be reviewed by a senior mentor. The sample can be a current draft of an article to be submitted for publication or an early version of a grant proposal. Submission of the writing sample is required at registration, although an updated draft may be submitted in July to the mentor. (Participants benefit maximally by choosing an early draft written solely or primarily by the participant and not under review or edited by a senior coauthor or mentor.)
Mentors will be former journal editors and program officers. They will critique the submitted material and provide individual feedback. Participants will be expected to initiate a revision in response with additional feedback from their mentors.
The workshop consists of three sessions and a final working lunch. On Sunday, the morning session will be a tutorial on effective writing techniques for technical articles. The afternoon session will take up specific issues such as requirements of specific journals, ethics, dealing with reviews, and revisions. It will conclude with individual conversations between mentors and participants.
The Wednesday morning session will focus on specific issues for participants whose native language is not English, with commentary by panels of experienced researchers who are non-native English speakers. Participants are expected to prepare an agreed-upon revision of a (limited) critiqued portion of the draft manuscript to return to the mentor for further comment. The working lunch on Wednesday will focus on further discussion and feedback, as well as allow time for follow-up discussions between participants and their mentors.
The writing workshop is designed for researchers with a PhD in statistics or biostatistics awarded or anticipated during 2010–2016. Attendance will be limited, with applicants within 0–3 years post-PhD receiving preference.
Applications are due June 1; successful applicants will be notified by June 30. Applications received after June 1 will be considered if space is available. There is no fee for participation, but participants must agree to attend the full workshop with exceptions permitted for a conflict with a participant’s scheduled presentation. Partial travel support is anticipated for participants without other funding. If space is available, researchers at institutions outside the United States will be admitted. Registration at JSM is required.
Review and Edit Workshop
Reviewing technical articles for publication and determining which of these are published in statistical journals is the lifeblood for statistical research. Quality in reviewing and selection of manuscripts for publication depends upon skilled reviewers and editors. With many new journals both online and in print, both reviewers and editors are taking on these responsibilities without a great deal of personal experience. The goal of this workshop is to assist new reviewers and editors by drawing on the experience of senior editors.
Speakers and mentors will be experienced senior editors. The workshop will be a half day, beginning with a working breakfast. The program will be in two sessions, the first on reviewing and the second on editing. A one-hour tutorial will be followed by separation into three or four roundtables, each led by one of the editor-mentors.
The first session tutorial will address such questions as: What constitutes an “excellent” review? What does an editor need to know from a reviewer? What does the author need to know from the reviewer? Which judgments should be made by reviewers and which by editors?
The second session tutorial will focus on questions like: What are the paradigms for operating a journal? What really is the job of an associate editor (depending on the journal’s editorial model)? How should judgments be reached about finding reviewers? How should the reviews received be evaluated? What about complaints (legitimate or not)? How is the role of an (executive) editor different?
Roundtables will be small groups organized around their areas/types of research. Participants will discuss real examples, synthesized examples, and reviews they have written or received. Participants will be asked to prepare materials in advance.
The Review and Edit Workshop is designed for researchers who publish in the statistical literature and hold a doctorate awarded since 2008 in statistics, biostatistics, or related field. Attendance at the Review and Edit Workshop will be limited, and applicants within 3–7 years post-PhD will receive preference. Applications are due by June 1; successful applicants will be notified by June 30. Applications received after June 1 will be considered if space is available. There is no fee for participation. Partial travel support is anticipated for participants without other funding. If space is available, researchers at institutions outside the United States will be admitted. Registration at JSM is required.
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