Mountain Research and Development (MRD) is an independent, not-for-profit, and society-based peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the International Mountain Society (IMS). Its editorial office is hosted at the Centre for Development and Environment of the University of Bern, Switzerland. MRD advances transformative knowledge for sustainable development in mountains and interconnected lowlands. It publishes high-quality articles on disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research and practice-based insights. It fosters dialogue within science, as well as between science, policy, and practice. It supports development of scientific and communicative capacities. MRD fulfils its mission through strong engagement with individuals, organizations, and networks within and beyond the mountain research and development community.
To advance the journal’s vision of sustainable and resilient futures for mountain societies and mountain environments worldwide, and to broaden and strengthen its engagement with the international mountain research community, MRD welcomes applications for the period of 2026–2028 for the newly created positions of:
Topic Editors
Your Tasks
You will be part of the editorial team and oversee a specific topic covered by MRD (see list below). You will also promote the journal and encourage submissions from your field. You will be responsible for appointing qualified reviewers, overseeing the review process, and making recommendations on submitted manuscripts. Working closely with the associate editors, you will ensure smooth and rapid processing of manuscripts.
Topics to be covered in the period of 2026–2028 are:
- Society and culture
- Governance and institutions
- Economy and livelihoods
- Ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources
- Land use and agriculture
- Climate change, hazards, and risks
We acknowledge that there are overlaps between topics, and we remain open to further topic suggestions.
Requirements
We welcome applications from individuals from all over the world and from all career stages who meet the following requirements:
- Strong background in interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary mountain research
- Global and regional expertise in the proposed topic
- Proven track record in publishing and reviewing scientific articles
- Commitment for a period of three years
- Proficiency in English
- Willingness to commit up to 0.05 FTE annually
- Previous engagement with the journal (eg as a member of the International Editorial Board, reviewer, or author) is an advantage
- Experience in scientific editing and publishing is an advantage
What we offer
The topic editor positions are ad honorem and offer the following benefits:
- Collaboration with a committed editorial team and an international community dedicated to sustainable development in mountains
- Opportunity to contribute to the definition and shaping of thematic focus issues
- Experience editing and publishing an international peer-reviewed scientific journal
- Visibility on MRD’s website as an editorial team member
- One publication fee waiver per three-year term for an article published in MRD as a first author or coauthor
Details
Start: 1 January 2026 or as agreed
Location: remote
Duration: 3 years
For inquiries, please contact associate editors Brigitte Portner (brigitte.portner@unibe.ch) and Susanne Wymann (susanne.wymann@unibe) with “Topic Editor” in the subject line.
Apply by: 24 October 2025
Application: Please send a PDF document containing both (1) a brief statement of interest (max 400 words) outlining your preferred topic and a vision for the topic and (2) your CV to mrd-journal.cde@unibe.ch, indicating “Topic Editor” in the subject line.
Application Process: Short-listed applicants will be invited for a brief online meeting in late November 2025. Decisions will be announced by 15 December 2025. An onboarding workshop will be held in January 2026.
MRD values diversity and equal opportunity. We welcome all applications from qualified individuals who meet the required criteria.
