Positions
Editor
Member of the Editorial Board. Reviews and edits student submissions for publication and contributes to journal development and outreach initiatives.
Scientific Illustrator
Member of the Design Team. Designs graphic art that illustrates and interprets student works for an lay and undergraduate audience. We primarily use BioRender, but welcome other mediums!
Print Designer
Member of the Design Team. Helps plan and design each issue of the annual/biannual Print Edition. We use Adobe Indesign.
How to Apply
Applications for Fall Quarter are now closed.
Please check back early in each quarter for details about new open positions.
Email the following documents to aggietranscript@gmail.com:
Editors
- An anonymized (does not contain your name) resume
- No prior experience in editing or major in a life science required! We are looking for students interested in communicating the life sciences and demonstrate potential in working with biological topics.
- An anonymized cover letter
- A writing sample
- We prefer life sciences content but accept any subject matter
Scientific Illustrators or Print Designers
- An anonymized (does not contain your name) resume
- No prior experience or major in design required! We are looking for students interested in design and visual communication
- An anonymized cover letter
- A design sample if available
- Alternative assignment if you do not have any previous experience in graphic design or do not have any samples: Look through our latest print issue and write a short reflection on the following points:
- What do you think the Design Team did well?
- What do you think the Design Team could improve for our next issue?
- If you were on the team, what would you like to change?
- Alternative assignment if you do not have any previous experience in graphic design or do not have any samples: Look through our latest print issue and write a short reflection on the following points:
Responsibilities of a Member
Editors
1. Attend the Editorial Board's weekly meetings
Our meetings last an hour at various locations in the Memorial Union. Before every quarter, we send out a poll to select a meeting time that fits in with everyone’s schedules.
2. Read and review submissions on a weekly basis
As an editor, you are assigned papers weekly to edit by the meeting the following week. During finals week, editors get an extra week to complete their duties. Editors are assigned biweekly during summer. Average time commitment for first year is 2-4 hours per week.
3. Plan and participate in publicity events and initiatives on campus
Our activities range from tabling at the Memorial Union, representing the journal at Involvement Fair, and instructing our First-Year Seminar. Our goal is to get people interested in reading, applying, and publishing with us.
4. Contribute new submissions
Every quarter, we ask editors to pitch a paper idea to the board and submit at an agreed upon deadline.
5. Work with other editors to develop content ideas for the journal
All board members are active in decision making at our meetings. We value diversified conversation to expand our work and content.
Scientific Illustrators & Print Designers
1. Attend the Design Team's weekly meetings
We meet separately from Editorial Board. Meetings last an hour at various locations on campus per quarter. Before every quarter, we send out a poll to select a meeting time that fits in with everyone’s schedules.
2. Complete assigned design tasks on a timely basis
This includes creating custom illustrations for pieces submitted to the journal (Scientific Illustrator) or designing the Print Edition (Print Designer). Exact timeframes are agreed upon with the Head of Design but are usually on a weekly or biweekly basis. Average time commitment for first year is 2-3 hours per week.
3. Plan and participate in journal initiatives
This includes contributing to discussions of image and branding development, working with other Design Team members to develop content ideas, and partaking in some of the Editorial Board's publicity events.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why do you want anonymized documents?
- We anonymize all applications and submissions before reviewing them to help reduce any bias that may be present. Each of the several applications we receive every year takes immense time to thoroughly anonymize, so please help speed up our application review process by submitting anonymized documents!
- I’m interested in multiple positions, can I apply for them all?
- Yes! Several of our past members have been both editors and designers at the same time. Let us know in your application email all the positions that you are interested in applying for!
- I want to submit multiple samples, can I submit them all?
- Yes, but please be mindful of the time it takes for the board to review each sample!
- Does my writing sample have to be scientific?
- No! The board has received applications with a wide range of writing samples in the past. Some general advice for your application is to focus on the quality and style of your writing as opposed to the subject. If you would like examples of what is considered an excellent writing sample, feel free to check out our Print Editions!
- I am not currently enrolled at UC Davis or recently graduated. Can I still apply?
- Unfortunately, we only accept current undergraduates at UC Davis. If you are enrolled at a different institution, check whether they have a similar journal you can apply to!
- Can I still apply outside the Fall/Spring cycle?
- You can send your application anytime, however the board will not review it until the next cycle.