Gina Vong – The Society for Experimental Biology

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Where did you go and what did you do?

I completed a remote placement jointly with the Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) and two of its journals, where I contributed to a wide range of publishing, outreach, communications and membership activities. During the placement, I wrote an article for the SEB Magazine, developed an educational outreach resource on Minecraft foxes, and helped create a new outreach resource for Nottingham Science Festival 2026. I also curated a series of Grant Stories showcasing the impact of SEB funding and contributed to the Society’s Awards Nomination Taskforce. Within journal activities, I led the creation, promotion and delivery of the first Conservation Physiology webinar, supported the Open Education and Development (OED) webinar series and working group, and managed the journal’s social media presence. In addition, I assisted with membership record management through the Society’s CRM system, conducted competitor analysis of Conservation Physiology and related journals, generated leads to encourage more plant science submissions, and helped clear a submission backlog for the Journal of Experimental Botany ahead of a transition to a new submission platform. I also supported the Journal of Experimental Botany 75th Anniversary Symposium, gaining experience across scientific publishing, stakeholder engagement, event delivery and research communications.

What made you want to do that particular PIPS and what skills have you learned?

I was interested in publishing, learned societies and science-adjacent careers.

Through this placement, I developed a broad range of professional and technical skills relevant to scientific publishing, communications and event management. I gained hands-on experience managing customer relationship management (CRM) and content management (CMS) systems, helping to maintain membership records and online content efficiently. I built skills in online event planning through supporting and leading webinars, and learned how to organise productive meetings that achieve clear objectives and outcomes.

Working with academic journals gave me valuable experience navigating journal submission systems and editorial workflows, while conducting competitor analysis strengthened my ability to assess organisational performance and identify opportunities for growth. I also developed expertise in social media management, including creating and promoting content to engage target audiences. In addition, I enhanced my proficiency in Advanced Excel, improving my ability to organise, analyse and interpret data effectively.

Ask lots of questions and be open to new experiences!

What has been the impact (or likely future impact) of your PIPS?

Competitor analysis will be used to inform the journal strategy for the next year. Educational resources and webinars hopefully help inspire young scientists. Hopefully improve representation of minoritised scientists in prestigious science awards.

How would you sum up your PIPS experience?

A well-rounded experience that gave lots of insights into publishing, running a society and working in the charity sector. I’m grateful for the trust I was given and the amazing mentorship I received from both teams.