Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Photonics

Title:
Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Photonics

Location:
Beijing, Shanghai, New York or New Jersey - hybrid model

Closing date:
20th October, 2025

About Springer Nature
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About The Brand
Nature Portfolio is a world leader in publishing high-quality research. The Nature Portfolio journals include Nature, the Nature Research journals, the Nature Reviews journals, Nature Communications as well as the Communications journals and npj series.

About The Role
Do you love science but feel that a career at the bench isn't enough to sate your desire to learn more about scientific research? Do you enjoy reading papers outside your chosen area of research? If the answer is 'yes' to any or all these questions, you could be the person we're looking for to join the Nature Portfolio editorial team.

To help us build on the success of the portfolio, we're seeking an editor with experience in photonics who has a critical eye, a deep understanding of their subject and interests beyond, and who can think on their feet.

This is a permanent position within the Nature Portfolio. The successful candidate will primarily support
Nature Photonics
and may collaborate closely with other Nature Portfolio journals as needed. Please note that responsibilities and journal assignments may evolve over time in response to portfolio needs.

Nature Photonics
) publishes original research on all aspects of the science and technology of light and its applications. These research papers are complemented by Editorials, Reviews, News & Views and Comment pieces on topics that are of interest to the optics community both in academia and industry.

We're looking for someone with a passion for science and the communication of science to join the
Nature Photonics
editorial team as an Associate or Senior Editor.

The responsibilities include:

• Handling original research papers and working closely with editor teams on all aspects of the editorial process, including manuscript selection and overseeing peer review.
• Making well-reasoned editorial decisions on submitted manuscripts in the light of expert advice.
• Contributing to content and strategy in this area at Nature Photonics and other Nature Portfolio journals as needed.
• Commissioning, editing content such as Reviews, or writing editorials.
• Liaising extensively with editors at other journals in the Nature Portfolio and with experts in the international scientific community.
• Attending conferences and visiting research institutions.

To be considered for the position, you will have:

• A PhD (or equivalent) in a field related to photonics.
• Additional research experience valuable but not needed.
• A thorough understanding of recent trends and developments in the field is essential.
• A passion for science and a thirst to learn more. You must be able to demonstrate the breadth of your interest in scientific research, both within and beyond your speciality.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including fluent English (written and spoken).
• The ability to read and assess the novelty, context and implications of research submitted to the journal from different areas of this discipline.
• Be eager to travel and meet scientists worldwide, learn more about them and their research, and help them learn more about us and what we are looking for in the papers we seek to publish.
• Editorial experience is not required, although applicants with editorial experience are encouraged to apply and may be considered for Senior Editor positions.

The successful candidates will report to the Chief Editor of the journal.

This demanding and intellectually stimulating role is in either of our New York/New Jersey/Shanghai or Beijing offices. The position is offered on a permanent basis and its starting date is envisaged as soon as possible.

Applicants should include a CV, a covering letter explaining their interest in the position and preferred office of employment. Please also provide a 300-word highlight in the style of
Nature Photonics
covering a peer-reviewed research paper that has caught your attention recently. The paper you highlight should not be from your own (or previous) research group and should not have been published in
Science
or any Nature journal; it should be on a topic that you find interesting and exciting. The highlight should explain the significance and implications of the research to someone who is not a specialist in the subject. See

and

, as examples.

Candidates will be considered as they apply.

US employees are eligible for benefits including, but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, life and AD&D insurance, tuition assistance, employee assistance program, paid vacation and sick time, flexible spending accounts, and a 401k retirement savings plan.

In order to comply with various pay transparency laws and legislations in the United States, the salary range and benefits for this position are included. This information is only applicable to US-based candidates and the actual salary offer may vary based on work experience, education, skill level and equity. Salary ranges differ by country due to various local market considerations. The US salary range does not align with the salary ranges in other countries when converted to the currency of that country.

US Annualized Base Salary Range: Associate Editor:$80,000 / Senior Editor: $95,000.

At Springer Nature, we value the diversity of our teams and work to build an inclusive culture, where people are treated fairly and can bring their differences to work and thrive. We empower our colleagues and value their diverse perspectives as we strive to attract, nurture and develop the very best talent.

Springer Nature was awarded Diversity Team of the Year at the 2022 British Diversity Awards. Find out more about our DEI work here

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