Call for Applications - Editor-in-Chief,

Papers in Regional Science (PiRS)

The Regional Science Association International (RSAI) seeks candidates for the position of editor-in-chief of one of the association’s official journals, Papers in Regional Science (PiRS). PiRS is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing fundamental knowledge in regional science from its multiple theoretical and methodological perspectives, and is one of the highest ranked journals in the field of regional science. The journal encourages high quality scholarship on a broad range of topics in the field of regional science. 

Candidates should be RSAI members with a wide knowledge of urban and regional phenomena as well as distinguished records of scholarly contributions internationally. Candidates should also possess strong intellectual vision, leadership and organizational abilities, and experience relevant to editing a journal in the field of regional science. The appointment will start January 2019 and continue for a three-year renewable term.

The editor’s primary responsibility is to continue to enhance the journal’s quality, reputation, and scholarship. The editor will be expected to strengthen the journal’s competitive position in support of RSAI’s worldwide mission. The editor will also demonstrate visionary leadership in developing editorial policies and initiatives that stimulate novel ways to theorize and analyze the changing reality of urban and regional environments so as to represent the full spectrum of high-quality research conducted worldwide in the regional science community.

The editor will recommend an international team of associate editors and a book review editor to help administer the peer review process, promote excellence in content and advance editorial initiatives.

The PiRS editor reports to RSAI through the RSAI Council. RSAI provides financial support to the editorial office for management of the journal.

Detailed information on responsibilities and on the process for applying for the editor-in-chief position is available below.

Specific duties of the Editor-in-Chief and journal editorial office include:

1. Maintaining and updating the aims and scope of the journal, editorial policies, and guidelines to authors.
2. Overseeing the manuscript peer review process through the publisher’s on-line submission portal in an unbiased, confidential, and timely manner.
3. Checking proofs and revisions to proofs.
4. Preparing and forwarding accepted manuscripts to the publisher’s production department.
5. Coordinating standards and practices across managing editors and managing the workload of each member of the editorial team.
6. Maintaining close and regular contact with the publisher on marketing and production matters.
7. Initiating and responding to correspondence with authors, managing editors, and reviewers.
8. Recruiting, selecting, and appointing PiRS board members that reflect the diversity of regional science and addressing any performance issues.
9. Soliciting guest issues, selecting guest editors, and providing advice and assistance to guest editors.
10. Adhering to the page budget and financial structures set by RSAI. RSAI and the publisher are responsible for managing production, layout, printing, subscriptions, pricing and funding initiatives for society publications.
11. Appointing associate editors and a book review editor (to be approved by RSAI Council). The editorial team (editor and associate editors) will be comprised of RSAI members with high stature and respect in the community, and with the expertise to manage the breadth of regional science.
12. Serving as a non-voting ex officio member of RSAI Council and other regional science governing bodies.
13. Chairing the jury of the annual Martin Beckmann Prize for the best article published in PiRS and managing the nomination and selection procedure.
14. Reporting to RSAI Council through regular reports at Council meetings.
15. Reporting to the journal editorial board through board meetings held at least once a year.

Application process:

Interested individuals should submit an application package that includes:

A succinct letter of interest and qualifications, containing an indication of the editorial team;

A vision statement for the next three to six years of publication of PiRS;

A curriculum vitae;

The names and contact information of three references.

Applications packages must be received by October 19, 2018.

All requested information should be submitted by e-mail as a single PDF file to Dan Rickman, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., copying Elisabete Martins, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., in the e-mail.