Every scientist wants to publish. But few get proper training in how papers are judged. The mBio Early Career Editorial Board from the American Society for Microbiology fixes that gap. It trains early career researchers in peer review and publication ethics. Then it pairs each member with an mBio editor who guides real manuscript reviews.
Applications are open now and close on 11 December 2026. Researchers from all regions are encouraged to apply.
Last Information Checked: 21 October 2026
Quick Facts
| Item | Details |
| Programme | mBio Early Career Editorial Board (ECB) 2027 to 2028 |
| Organiser | American Society for Microbiology (ASM) |
| Journal | mBio |
| Who it is for | Early career researchers in the sciences |
| Focus | Peer review publication ethics and scholarly publishing |
| Training phase | 3 months of online sessions |
| Mentored reviewing | 12 months |
| Programme term | Spring 2027 through summer 2028 |
| Applications open | 19 October 2026 |
| Deadline | 11 December 2026 |
What the Programme Is
mBio is a science journal published by ASM. Its Early Career Editorial Board gives new researchers real experience in the peer review process. Peer review checks the quality, reliability and relevance of research before it is published. Many early career researchers have little formal training in it. This programme mixes classes with supervised reviewing to close that gap.
The board began in 2022 as the mBio Junior Editorial Board. The first group had 64 early career researchers. So this is a programme with a track record.
How the Programme Works
| Phase | Length | What you do |
| Training phase | 3 months | Join online sessions every two weeks. Attend live or watch the recordings |
| Mentored reviewing phase | 12 months | Work with an mBio editor and review manuscripts in your area |
After training each member is paired with an mBio editor whose expertise matches the member’s research. The editor gives personal feedback on every review. Members can talk about their progress and improve their technique.
What You Will Learn
- Principles of effective peer review
- Publication ethics and research integrity
- How to spot and reduce bias in the review process
- Responsible use of artificial intelligence in scholarly publishing
- How to write clear constructive and useful manuscript reviews
- How to judge a manuscript and find method problems
- How to keep fairness and integrity in scholarly communication
Programme Benefits
- Structured training in peer review and publication ethics
- Hands on experience reviewing real scientific manuscripts
- Personal feedback from experienced journal editors
- Mentorship and talks about your professional development
- Better scientific writing, critical thinking and communication skills
- A look at editorial work and possible future leadership roles
- A way to strengthen your academic profile
- A chance to help build a fair and inclusive scientific publishing community
Who Should Apply
The programme is for early career researchers in the sciences. It suits those whose expertise fits the microbiology research that mBio publishes. It is especially useful if you care about manuscript evaluation, research integrity, academic publishing or editorial development.
ASM encourages researchers from all geographic regions to apply. It gives special encouragement to people from groups that are underrepresented in the sciences. That includes researchers from regions with fewer chances to get formal peer review training.
The announcement does not list the exact eligibility rules. It does not state a minimum degree a limit on career stage or any membership rule. Read the official guidelines before you apply.
What You Must Commit To
- Stay in the programme from spring 2027 through summer 2028
- Attend all training sessions or watch the recordings
- Join group discussions and mentoring meetings
- Finish the assigned activities
- Review an average of one mBio manuscript each month in the reviewing phase
- Follow ASM reviewer policies and guidelines
- Keep every manuscript confidential
- Give reviews that are on time fair unbiased and constructive
- Help build an inclusive publishing environment
- Encourage colleagues in the microbial sciences to support their professional society
Think about your time before you apply. This is a commitment of more than a year.
How To Apply
- Open the official ASM page for the mBio Early Career Editorial Board.
- Read the official guidelines and check that you meet every rule.
- Prepare the documents the application asks for.
- Submit between 19 October 2026 and 11 December 2026.
The announcement does not list the documents. Check the official guidelines for the full list.
Mistakes To Avoid
- Trying to apply before the form opens on 19 October 2026
- Applying without reading the official eligibility rules
- Ignoring the time you need each month for reviews
- Choosing a research area that does not fit mBio
- Leaving your application to the last week
- Not checking if the programme has any cost or support details
Key Dates
- 19 October 2026: Applications open
- 11 December 2026: Applications close
- Spring 2027: Programme starts with three months of training
- Summer 2028: Programme ends after the twelve month reviewing phase