New fellowship program aims to further understanding of the publication process

It's undeniable that publishing research in a major journal is key to the success and reputation of a scientist. For beginning scientists, submitting a paper to a journal and undergoing peer review can seem like engaging with a black box.

To provide early-career vision scientists with the opportunity to learn about academic peer review, the publication process, and editorial board processes, the National Eye Institute (NEI) has worked with the editors-in-chief of 7 leading vision journals to create a new two-year program: the Council of Vision Editors Fellowship (CVEF) Program.

Caption: The 2024-2026 Council of Vision Editors Fellows are Abigail Fahim, M.D., Ph.D., University of Michigan; Christopher Conrady, M.D., Ph.D., University of Nebraska; Cindy Cai, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University; Debarshi Mustafi, M.D., Ph.D., University of Washington; Dolly Ann Padovani-Claudio, M.D., Ph.D., Vanderbilt University; Edmund Tsui, M.D., M.S., University of California Los Angeles; Elise Savier, Ph.D., University of Michigan; Emily Wiecek, O.D., Ph.D., Harvard University; Jeremy Lavine, M.D., Ph.D., Northwestern University; Katy Liu, M.D., Ph.D., Duke University; Kimberly Gokoffski, M.D., Ph.D., University of Southern California; Nathan Scott, M.D. M.P.P., University of California San Diego; Sangita Patel, M.D., Ph.D., University at Buffalo; Sophia Wang, M.D., M.S., Stanford University.

Participating journals offering editorial board fellowships starting this year include TheAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology, IOVS, JAMA Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology Science, Optometry & Vision Science, and TVST. Over 40 early-career vision scientists funded through the NEI Research Career Development Awards applied to the new program, and 14 were matched to one of the 7 vision journals for a two-year fellowship. After the first year, the fellows will rotate to one of the other journals.

Matilda Chan, M.D., Ph.D., a physician-scientist at University of California San Francisco, has been managing the program in its first year.

"It's exciting to be able to offer these early career scientists a new perspective, that of seeing how the journals operate, said Chan. "This is a useful addition to their training and other benefits may include career development and improved writing skills."

NEI Director Michael F. Chiang, M.D., welcomes the collaboration that has made this program possible. "I am excited that NEI is working with the journals on this innovative program. It will benefit the entire vision field by providing opportunities for early career scientists along with preparing a group of outstanding future reviewers and potential editorial board members for the journals."

To provide early-career vision scientists with the opportunity to learn about academic peer review, the publication process, and editorial board processes, the National Eye Institute (NEI) has worked with the editors-in-chief of 7 leading vision journals to create a new two-year program: the Council of Vision Editors Fellowship (CVEF) Program.