Open Call for Associate Editors, 2027–2030 term
Application deadline: 15 November 2026
Submit to: michal.bialek3@uwr.edu.pl
Term: 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2030
Workload: about two manuscripts per year
About the journal
Social Psychological Bulletin (SPB) is a diamond open-access journal, free for authors and free for readers. It is owned by the Polish Social Psychological Society and publishes empirical articles, registered reports, replications, theoretical contributions, and methodological papers across social psychology and neighbouring fields.
SPB is committed to open, transparent, and cumulative science. The journal requires data sharing, supports Registered Reports, has a TOP Factor of 14, and received a 2025 Journal Impact Factor of 2.3, placing it in Q2.
From 1 January 2027, SPB will be led by a new team of Editors-in-Chief: Magdalena Formanowicz (SWPS University, Warsaw), Michał Białek (University of Wrocław), and Janis Zickfeld (Aarhus University).
Editorial mission
Our aim is to publish theoretically meaningful, methodologically sound, and transparently reported research from across the international social psychological community. We want SPB to be a strong outlet not only for work from established research centres, but also for high-quality research from Central and Eastern Europe and from other regions, institutions, and scholarly communities that remain underrepresented in mainstream psychology.
We evaluate manuscripts primarily on the strength of their theoretical contribution, methodological quality, transparency, and relevance to social psychology. During the 2027–2030 term, we plan to further strengthen SPB’s open-science standards while keeping them realistic and attainable for authors working in different research environments.
Why this call
With this call, we want to broaden the editorial team and strengthen the journal’s coverage across topics, methods, populations, and regions. We particularly encourage applications from researchers based outside the most heavily represented Western academic contexts, as well as from scholars whose expertise would extend the current scope of the board.
Applicants should typically hold a PhD and have a publication and reviewing record in their area of expertise. We also warmly welcome applications from early-career researchers with relevant experience and a clear interest in careful, constructive editorial work.
The role
Associate Editors handle manuscripts assigned on the basis of their expertise and stated interests. The expected workload is modest, about two manuscripts per year.
For each assigned manuscript, Associate Editors assess whether the paper should be sent for external review, invite reviewers, evaluate the reviews, evaluate the manuscript against the journal guidelines, and recommend a decision to the Editors-in-Chief. Associate Editors have the authority to recommend desk rejection when a manuscript is clearly outside the journal’s scope or not ready for review.
The position is unpaid, as is the whole editorial structure of this community-run journal. Associate Editors will receive guidance from the Editors-in-Chief, support in using the editorial system, and short onboarding sessions on SPB’s editorial standards, open-science criteria, and constructive review practices.
How to apply
Please complete the structured application form (see below) and send it as a single PDF to michal.bialek3@uwr.edu.pl by 15 November 2026, using the subject line “AE application” followed by your surname.
The application form asks for:
- your digital record, including ORCID and, optionally, Google Scholar or another public profile;
- your research interests, areas of expertise, and a list of five most representative publications;
- your editorial and reviewing experience;
- a statement of no more than a page explaining why you are applying and describing your stance on open science.
Applications will be assessed by the incoming Editors-in-Chief with attention to expertise, fit with the journal’s scope and mission, editorial and reviewing experience, approach to open science, and the contribution the applicant would make to the board’s diversity in geography, career stage, gender, topic, and method.
All applicants will be notified by 30 November 2026. Questions about the role are welcome at michal.bialek3@uwr.edu.pl.