SU Press -- Next-Generation Humanities Doctoral Intern
Department Description
Syracuse University Press is committed to publishing vital scholarship, sharing ideas, and giving voice to important stories that might not otherwise be told. We publish 40 books a year in the areas of Middle East Studies, Irish Studies, Popular Culture and TV Studies, Disability Studies, Jewish History, Indigenous Studies, Geography, Arab American Studies, Sports Studies, Peace and Conflict Resolution, and New York State. Our Acquisitions department fields and evaluates book proposals, manages peer review, and works closely with authors to finalize manuscripts for publication.
Job Description
The Next-Generation Humanities doctoral intern will work primarily within the Acquisitions department, with responsibilities to include:
- evaluating book proposals
- researching potential readers for peer review
- putting together publication proposals for the press’s faculty editorial board
- preparing manuscripts for transmission to the Editorial and Production department
- assisting authors in identifying and securing needed permissions
- participating in long-term planning of the press’s publishing agenda
- soliciting proposals from prospective authors
- collaborating with Editorial, Production, and Marketing departments to meet publication goals
The intern will work closely with colleagues in various roles to shepherd book projects to publication — contributing to the production of scholarship and participating in a global community of scholars as well as a local community of readers. The intern will work an average of 25-30 hours/week over the course of seven (7) or eight (8) weeks in summer 2024 (exact dates are flexible and TBD). Applicants should submit a resume/CV and a cover letter indicating how they envision the internship aligning with their professional trajectory.
Qualifications
Matriculated Syracuse University PhD student in a humanities or closely related discipline.
Professional Skills to Be Gained
- Detailed understanding of university press acquisitions work, including hands-on experience with basic functions such as inviting manuscripts for review, evaluating proposals, placing manuscripts with readers, evaluating peer reviews and managing revisions, and constructing editorial board proposals
- Broad familiarity with university press operations (including editorial, production, and marketing functions), the current landscape of academic publishing, and professional roles in the sector
- Professionally appropriate communication with a wide range of collaborators, including press colleagues, series editors, authors, and peer reviewers
- Transferable skills such as organization, time management, and the ability to work both in a team and independently