How Reinvention shaped my Career Path: Insights from an Assistant Editor

Sol, a fourth-year PPE undergraduate student at the University of Warwick, joined Reinvention in 2023 as an Assistant Editor. Despite only being at Reinvention for a few months, she has already seen the significant impact it has had on her life and how it has shaped her career journey.

Written by Sol Rodríguez Oliete, edited by Inés Robledo, July 2024

I did not know about Reinvention until my department mentioned the opportunity in one of our weekly newsletters. However, when I read what the job entailed, I realized it was perfect for me. Last year, I had my first real experience with research when I wrote a research article on the impact of ecotourism on sharks and presented it at WorldCUR 2023. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and discovered my passion for research.

Consequently, when I saw the ad for an "Assistant Editor" at Reinvention, I thought it was an incredible opportunity to be part of the research community and help promote knowledge expansion through the journal. Moreover, I love learning about new things, and being an assistant editor allows me to explore a variety of topics due to the interdisciplinary nature of the journal. This means that when I am assigned an article to review, it could be from any discipline. While I study PPE, I am now familiar with topics such as the impact of mastitis in cattle or the effect of the lunar cycle on nocturnal behaviour in rodents!

Benefits of Working as an Assistant Editor

Working for Reinvention has been both an enriching and enjoyable experience. I have learned a lot about running a journal, the many steps involved in publishing an issue, and the long process of peer review. That is, I have had the opportunity to gain an understanding of the entire publication process, which is much more complex than I initially imagined.

In addition to the nature of the job, another benefit of working for Reinvention that appealed to me was its flexibility. As a student, juggling studies, a job, and a social life can be challenging. Most part-time jobs I found required working around 20 hours a week, even if they were student friendly. In contrast, Reinvention offers flexibility; as long as you complete your tasks, you can do them whenever it suits you best. This means that if you prefer to review articles at 3 a.m. because you work better at night, it is possible!

Moreover, as aforementioned, I have learned a lot from different topics by reading research papers from various disciplines. It has been inspiring to read about people's interests, as their papers clearly show their passion for their topics.

Additionally, as an Assistant Editor, I had the opportunity to help promote the journal. This year, my colleague Ines and I organized a workshop on how to tailor your research for Reinvention, which we presented at the BCUR 2023 at LSE. It was an amazing opportunity to engage with the research community and talk to students about the benefits of getting their research published as undergraduates. We shared our experiences and tips on successfully publishing research, encouraging other students to contribute to academic discourse. This experience also allowed us to interact with fellow researchers and professionals in the field, which provided a valuable network opportunity.

Career Prospects

Being an Assistant Editor at the research journal of your university demonstrates that you possess many skills that recruiters and master's program admissions officers are looking for. It showcases your time management and organizational skills, as you have to juggle various tasks such as liaising with peer reviewers, reviewing papers for editorial review, and working on other projects like organizing workshops.

Consequently, working for Reinvention can open doors to many industries. You can pursue a career in the editorial sector, academia, or even in various roles that require strong research and analytical skills. The experience this job provides is versatile and thus, highly valued across different fields.

Personally, my job at Reinvention has been instrumental in demonstrating my passion for and experience in research. It has also provided me with the opportunity to showcase essential skills needed for my master's studies, such as the ability to conduct thorough research and maintain meticulous attention to detail. Next September, I will start my master´s degree in European policies and public administration. After my master, I would like to work in policy, especially on policies thar foster collaboration between the EU and academic institutions to create new knowledge that benefits society.

My belief in the importance of research for expanding knowledge has been significantly reinforced thanks to Reinvention. The interdisciplinary nature of the journal allowed me to familiarize myself with diverse research topics, broadening my understanding of how different fields can intersect and contribute to policy development. Thus, without Reinvention, I would not have known the pivotal part of research in expanding knowledge and informing policy, and I would have never figured out what I am really passionate about!

Interested in publishing your research with Reinvention? Find out more at Reinvention: an International Journal of Undergraduate Research (reinventionjournal.org)or get in touch via reinventionjournal@warwick.ac.uk