New editor perspectives: Avrilia Konguetsof

How did you come to your editorship? My path to editorship evolved naturally from my interest for advancing knowledge in applied mathematics and computation. Through years of experience as a researcher and reviewer, I developed a deep understanding of the academic publishing process and the nuances of peer review. My collaboration with journals and engaging with the editorial process sparked a desire inside me to take on a more active role and when the opportunity arose, I embraced it as a chance to help shape the field, support authors in refining their contributions, and uphold the highest academic standards.

How would you describe a typical working day [in terms of your editorial work]? A typical day begins with making a cup of coffee and checking my emails to see if there are any new submissions to the journal or if there are e-mails that need to be answered immediately. I review these to decide how to handle them and assign them to the appropriate associate editor based on the research topic's field of expertise. I also check for submissions with completed reviews that are ready for a final decision so that I can forward my response accordingly. Depending on the papers received, the required time varies.

What’s been the proudest achievement of your editorship so far? The achievement I’m most proud of during my time as an editor is successfully balancing my editorial responsibilities with a demanding and busy schedule. The editorship is an everyday commitment that often requires significant time and focus, especially during particularly demanding periods. Managing these responsibilities alongside my academic commitments and personal obligations, especially as a mother of young children, has been challenging at times, but finding this balance has been deeply rewarding.

How do you measure success as an editor? The success of an editor in applied mathematics is measured by their ability to find and promote high-quality research that makes important contributions to science. A good editor ensures the journal publishes innovative and impactful work that helps solve real-world problems and advances understanding in the field. By selecting and highlighting such research, the editor makes the journal a valuable resource for the scientific community. In addition, a successful editor works to increase the journal’s visibility and reputation. This includes maintaining high standards for peer review, attracting top researchers, and helping the journal reach a wide audience. In essence, the editor's success lies in shaping the journal into a vital contributor to scientific progress while amplifying its influence and impact.

Is there anything you wish someone had told you on day one? I wish someone had told me on day one that the role of an editor comes with its share of challenges and unexpected situations. Not every submission or decision will fit neatly into a standard process. There will be unusual cases, like groundbreaking but unconventional research that needs extra attention or ethical concerns that demand careful handling. Navigating these "abnormalities" requires judgment, patience, and sometimes creative problem-solving. At the same time, an editor must juggle many priorities: ensuring the quality of publications, managing relationships with authors and reviewers, meeting deadlines, and maintaining the journal’s overall vision and standards. Balancing these demands, while staying fair and focused, is key to succeeding in the role.

What’s has surprised you most as an editor? I will highlight one aspect that pleasantly surprised me and another that left me with negative feelings.

When I assumed the role of Associate Editor-in-Chief, I did not fully anticipate the degree of meticulous attention and sound judgment required to navigate complex situations such as handling allegations of plagiarism, conflicts of interest, and, more broadly, disputes between authors and reviewers. One particularly challenging case involved an external researcher who was neither an author of a paper nor a reviewer but persistently contacted the editorial team, asserting that he had uncovered significant errors in a published article. He repeatedly demanded that the paper be either retracted or corrected. Despite thorough and professional responses from the associate editor addressing his claims, he continued to escalate the matter by sending numerous emails, creating a situation that required careful management to balance transparency, due diligence, and editorial integrity.

On the other hand, I was delighted to discover how collaborative and supportive the academic and publishing community can be, from reviewers who go above and beyond to authors who genuinely value constructive feedback.

What is the most important attribute for being an editor in your opinion? Although is very hard to decide what is the most important attribute, in my opinion, insight is the most necessary attribute for an editor. It allows an editor to look beyond the surface of a manuscript and to identify its key strengths and areas that need improvement. It also helps in anticipating readers' expectations, understanding the broader context, and making choices that enhance the content’s relevance and impact.

Name one item/tool/resource that you cannot do without in your role? The essential tool I couldn’t do without is a platform, such as Editorial Manager that streamlines the entire editorial process. Through this management system I can screen submissions and assign them to associate editors in order to find the appropriate reviewers based on their expertise and in general I can track the status of the manuscripts at every stage.