The editorial boards of IFT’s journals are structured to have multiple editors with expertise covering all aspects of the journal’s scope, to ensure that all manuscripts submitted to the journal are adequately assessed by experienced editors in the specific field of the manuscript’s topic.
There are 4 levels of editors:
Editor-in-Chief: Leads and makes appointments to the editorial boards, guides strategy and vision of the journal, sets journal policies, also serves as Scientific Editor. The Editor-in-Chief is appointed by the IFT Board of Directors.
Scientific Editors: Screen manuscript submissions in their general topical area of expertise (e.g., chemistry, engineering, sensory), make immediate decisions on whether submissions should be considered for further review, assign Associate Editors with narrower expertise in the topic, commit final decisions on all submissions, and support the Editor-in-Chief with scope refinement and other strategic and policy decisions. New Scientific Editors are typically recruited from the Associate Editors.
Associate Editors: Assess submissions that are assigned to them, sometimes recommending rejection without further review; in most cases, find and invite appropriate reviewers with the right expertise and no conflicts of interest, with a goal to secure at least 3 high-quality (detailed, constructively critical) reviews. Make recommendations after peer review, adding their own assessment comments. Provide valuable input to Scientific Editors and Editor-in-Chief on processes, scope, and strategy. New Associate Editors are typically recruited from the Editorial Board Members-at-Large.
Editorial Board Members-at-Large: Primary reviewers who have a history of providing detailed, appropriate, critical reviews for the journal, who commit to reviewing for the journal at least 6 times per year and promote the journal, such as by recruiting submissions.
All journal editors are expected to attend regular editorial board meetings and to share their insights on the journals to staff and the Editor-in-Chief. Editorial board terms vary from 2 to 5 years, depending on the role. Scientific Editors and Editors-in-Chief have term limits.
IFT aims to have an editorial board and pool of reviewers that reflects the varied perspectives and experiences of our readership, authorship, membership, and the broader science of food community. Read more about DEIB at IFT.
If you would like to be considered for an editorial board position, apply here. A CV upload is required in the application. Candidates are considered annually near the end of the calendar year and, if not appointed, will be retained on our list for consideration for 3 years.
If you would like to serve as a reviewer, read more and apply on our Reviewer Resources page.
