The Campbell Collaboration Social Welfare Coordinating Group (SWCG) has an opportunity for volunteer peer reviewer information specialists to join the Campbell Systematic Reviews editorial team.
The SWCG facilitates the production of Campbell systematic reviews, evidence and gap maps and other evidence syntheses in areas related to social care, quality of life, poverty and homelessness, mental health, and other social welfare topics. The SWCG is seeking three information specialists to peer review protocols and reviews submitted to the group. This includes an information specialist for social welfare broadly and one for each of two sub-groups: 1) Ageing and 2) Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity. For more information about the SWCG, visit the SWCG home page. SWCG evidence syntheses are published in the Campbell Systematic Reviews journal, a fully open access journal hosted by Wiley.
The information specialists will:
- Provide high quality peer review of search methods for Campbell systematic reviews, evidence and gap maps and protocols submitted to the SWCG. The total number of peer review requests is variable, and would be shared among the three information specialists. In 2020, 28 protocols and nine full evidence syntheses were submitted for review.
- Contribute to the success and quality of Campbell reviews by providing thorough, fair and timely reviews of submissions as assigned by the managing editor, or by recruiting other knowledgeable librarians and information specialists to serve as peer reviewers as needed. Typically, expected turnaround time for peer review is 3-4 weeks.
- Participate in meetings with the SWCG editorial team to discuss and improve submission and peer review processes (no more than once every other month).
- Join the Campbell Information Retrieval Methods Group, which meets quarterly and engages in projects related to improving search methods and building capacity for systematic searching for Campbell reviews. Participation in this group is encouraged but not required.
The SWCG information specialists will also have the opportunity to join research teams as a co-author on Campbell reviews. This is not required, but an optional opportunity as needs arise.
Your profile
The ideal candidate is a librarian or information specialist knowledgeable and experienced in systematic review searching methods. We will give preference to information specialists and librarians with experience designing comprehensive, reproducible searches for systematic reviews or other evidence syntheses in the social sciences. We will provide the newly appointed SWCG information specialists with guidance, documentation and training to learn more about the Campbell peer review and publication process.
This is a voluntary appointment, and we ask for a two-year commitment.
How to apply
The deadline for individuals to indicate their interest in response to this call is 15 January 2021. Interested candidates should send a brief statement of interest, including information about experience related to systematic review searching and subject area expertise, and a CV.
Please indicate your interest in serving as the information specialist for Social Welfare broadly, or for the Ageing or Sexual Orientation & Gender Inequality sub-groups specifically. Please write to Sarah Young, co-convener of the Campbell Information Retrieval Methods Group, at infospec@campbellcollaboration.org.
Applications will be reviewed and applicants notified with a decision by 15 February 2021.