Two free workshops at JSM are designed for new researchers to develop capabilities for research publication. The Writing Workshop continues the successful series of workshops where each participant receives individual mentoring by an experienced journal editor. New this year, the Review & 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 for joining the ranks of associate editors. Both workshops will be held at JSM 2016 (subject to availability of funds). Thanks to NISS, ASA, IMS and ICSA (with other societies to be named) for partial support of both workshops.

2016 NISS/ASA/IMS/ENAR/ICSA Writing Workshop for Junior Researchers: Sunday 31 July & Wednesday 3 August at JSM

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 could 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.

Mentors will be former journal editors and program officers, who 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.

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, and dealing with reviews and revisions. 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 and will also allow time for follow-up discussions between participants and their mentors.

Attendance will be limited and will depend on the number of mentors available. To apply, go to http://www.amstat.org/meetings/wwjr/. Applications are due by June 1, 2016, and 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. Participants will receive lunch on Sunday, July 31, and Wednesday, August 3. Participants must agree to attend the full Sunday session, the half-day Wednesday session, and the Wednesday lunch. We have requested funding for partial travel support.

This workshop is designed for researchers with a recent PhD in either statistics or biostatistics. Top priority will go to those who have held the PhD for 0–3 years. Current PhD students who are completing their degree before the end of the summer will also be considered.

2016 Reviewing and Editing Workshop for Junior Researchers, also at JSM Chicago

Reviewing technical articles for publication and determining which of these are published in statistical journals is the lifeblood of statistical research. Quality in reviewing and in selection of manuscripts for publication depends upon skilled reviewers and editors. With many new journals both online and 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.

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 3 or 4 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? How should judgments be made about finding Reviewers? How should 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. They will discuss real examples, synthesized examples and reviews that participants have written or received. Participants will be asked to prepare some materials in advance.

Attendance will be limited. To apply, go to http://www.amstat.org/meetings/wwjr/. Applications are due by June 1, 2016. This workshop is designed for researchers with a PhD in either statistics or biostatistics. Top priority will go to those who have previously attended a Writing Workshop and who have held the PhD for 3–7 years. Top priority will go to those who have previously attended a Writing Workshop and who have held the PhD for 3–7 years.