To further enhance the international academic influence of Drones, foster an active platform for exchange among early-career scientists, and support the Editorial Board with additional talent, Drones is pleased to announce recruitment for its second Early Career Editorial Board (2026–2027).
We cordially invite outstanding early career researchers from around the world to join Drones, advance the journal’s academic impact and shape the future of academic publishing. Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) members will hold the position for two years with the possibility of renewal for a second term.
Recruitment:
We plan to recruit a total of 25 Early Career Editorial Board Members.
Application eligibility:
- Candidates must have completed their doctorate/PhD degree in the past 10 years (considering exceptions for career interruptions, including medical and family leave);
- There must be evidence of significant research achievements in the design and applications of drones, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPASs), etc. This includes contributions on unmanned marine/water/underwater drones, unmanned ground vehicles, fully autonomous driving, and space drones;
- Candidates must be willing to dedicate their time to the development of the journal with passion and enthusiasm;
- Candidates must be researchers that are active and engaged in their community (e.g., experienced at presenting at academic conferences or involved in professional organizations).
Benefits of an Early Career Editorial Board Member:
- A certificate of appointment as an Early Career Editorial Board Member will be provided;
- The achievements of Early Career Editorial Board Members are publicized in social media platforms to improve academic visibility;
- An opportunity to be promoted to Editorial Board Member based on contributions;
- The journal will regularly acknowledge those who participated in the peer-review process on the journal website;
- Opportunities to participate in or host annual meetings and online seminars organized by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board Members.
Responsibilities of an Early Career Editorial Board Member:
- Publicizing and promoting the journal at academic conferences and among peers;
- Selecting high-quality articles and preparing bilingual media content for promotion;
- Reviewing at least four manuscripts per year;
- Providing input on any new initiatives of journal development;
- Inviting submissions from global world-leading scientists in respective research fields.
Applications:
Please fill in the application form here.
Please send the application form and your academic resume to drones@mdpi.com with the subject “Drones Early Career Editorial Board Application + Name + Institute + Research Expertise”.
Application deadline: 31 March 2027.
Selection process:
Initial screening of application materials → selection by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members → email notification → issuing a certificate of appointment.
The selection will be made within one month of the application deadline and the results will be announced on the journal website.
