I am the current Physical Sciences Editor of Nature, a position that I have held since 1997. I manage a team of ten Associate/Senior Editors who, between them, are responsible for Nature’s output of original research papers in the physical sciences (which include astronomy, physics, materials, chemistry, Earth and environmental sciences). The work of this team involves ensuring the quality and immediacy of the published research, both through careful editorial pre-screening of the papers and by managing a fast and efficient peer-review process. A crucial component of this work is a close editorial interaction with the authors of successful papers, to ensure that the published manuscripts communicate their key findings effectively to a wide, scientifically literate audience.

I received a BA in Natural Sciences (specialising in physics) from the University of Cambridge in 1988, followed by four years of research on the electronic properties of conjugated polymers under the supervision of Professor Richard Friend (Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge), before joining the staff of Nature in 1992. When time permits, I occasionally write in a freelance capacity for Nature (having contributed to the news and “News and Views” sections of the journal) and also for the popular science weekly magazine New Scientist.