The SSA is now accepting applications for the role of ​Editor-in-Chief​ with Addiction Biology. Find out more about the role, and apply by 8 October 2026.

  • Location: Remote working with regular online meetings and an annual in-person meeting in the UK
  • Reports to: Chief Executive Officer and Board of Trustees
  • Honorarium: £10–15k per year (depending on experience)
  • Contract: No set hours and the requirement may vary

About the role

The Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA) is a UK registered charity with a mission to advance the scientific understanding of addictive products and behaviours and the use of this knowledge in policy and practice. The SSA owns two academic journals – Addiction and Addiction Biology – and invests all income from these publications back into the sector to support people, projects, and research in addiction science.

With the retirement of Professor Rainer Spanagel at Addiction Biology after more than two decades, there is an exciting opportunity to lead this scientific journal into a new era.

Addiction Biology focuses on advancing the understanding of substances and addiction from a neuroscience perspective. Accepted papers typically span behavioural, molecular, genetic, biochemical, neurobiological, and pharmacological fields of animal experimentation and clinical research.

The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic about ensuring that Addiction Biology becomes the home for the most important, influential, and widely cited advances in addiction biology.

What we’re looking for

Applicants should:

  • Have a PhD in neuroscience, pharmacology, or addiction science; a PhD in another area will be considered if accompanied by an extensive record of publishing in neuroscience, pharmacology, or addiction science
  • Be active in the field, including managing a programme of research and/or publishing
  • Show evidence of increasing editorial responsibility over time
  • Show evidence of strong editorial judgement when challenges have arisen (e.g. handling conflicting reviews, managing appeals)
  • Demonstrate excellent organisation and time management skills, including experience of meeting regular deadlines or managing day-to-day operations
  • Be aware of changes in the research publishing environment, relevant technological advances, and challenges and opportunities for publishers and editors (e.g. artificial intelligence, open science, preprints)
  • Be aware of specific challenges and opportunities in the field of addiction biology (e.g. animal research)
  • Demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills
  • Demonstrate a flexible and collaborative working style

What you’ll do

The Editor-in-Chief will have overall responsibility for the academic quality, editorial direction, and reputation of Addiction Biology. The role will involve:

  • Working closely with the owner of the journal (the SSA) and the publisher of the journal (Wiley) to develop and deliver a strategy for increasing and maintaining the status and visibility of the journal
  • Staying in regular communications with the Society, the publisher, and the Editorial Board
  • Overseeing the day-to-day operations of the journal, including ensuring that papers meet author guidelines and submissions follow the production schedule
  • Using an online editorial management system to invite peer reviews, accept/reject manuscripts, request revisions, and communicate with authors
  • Maintaining high standards in the peer-review process, and ensuring that the journal follows Committee on Publishing Ethics (COPE) guidelines
  • Analysing journal metrics to measure progress and identify areas for improvement
  • Acting as an ambassador for the journal and the Society (e.g. at conferences)
  • Ensuring that the journal’s editorial practices promote diversity and inclusion, and reflect varied perspectives in the advancement of scholarly research
  • Drawing on a strong international network to recruit reviewers, guest editors etc.
  • Delivering new initiatives (e.g. themed issues, innovative formats)
  • Enhancing the standing of the journal, including relative to competing journals

How to apply

If you would like to discuss the role, please email the SSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Rob Calder.

To apply for the role, please send the following documents to the SSA’s Administrator, Charlie Bindels, by 17:00 BST on 8 October 2026:

  1. Curriculum vitae (CV)
  2. Cover letter, outlining how you meet the criteria for this role
  3. Short assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of Addiction Biology, and an outline of your vision for this journal

Candidates who are shortlisted will be invited to attend an online interview on 21 October, where they will be asked to present their vision for Addiction Biology.