Senior Editor, Physics

Position Title

Senior Editor, Physics Today

Scientific discovery shapes our lives every day. AIP, publisher of Physics Today, empowers the organizations and people that make those discoveries possible. As a Federation, AIP advances the success of a community of more than 30 independent scientific organizations. As an Institute, AIP preserves the history of discovery so the past can guide the future. We study how research is done, who participates, and what holds people back or propels them to succeed.

Our findings inform policy, practice, and decision‑making across the physical sciences. We are especially focused on the next generation of physical scientists and committed to ensuring talent from anywhere can thrive in our fields.

Are you passionate about physics? Skilled at storytelling? Experienced in editing? Join Physics Today, the world’s most influential physical‑sciences publication, as a Senior Editor. The flagship publication of AIP, Physics Today is a trusted voice for the physical sciences. Through its accessible, engaging content, Physics Today serves as a unifying influence that bridges disciplinary boundaries and cultivates a shared understanding, appreciation, and sense of belonging.

Physics Today keeps the community informed, stimulates conversation, and helps shape how the community sees itself.

In this role, you will lead the Physics Today editing team in honing longer‑form content, written by subject‑matter experts and by staff and freelance writers and spanning the full gamut of fields, to make the pieces relevant and engaging for more than 150,000 monthly website visitors and 100,000 magazine readers. Come leverage a graduate degree in physics (PhD preferred) and 8+ years of science writing and editing experience to create impactful content for Physics Today’s scientifically literate audience and connect with the global physical‑sciences community.

• Lead Physics Today’s team of editors in the substantive and line editing of longer‑form content to produce clear, polished, and engaging final products that resonate with the audience.
• Provide editorial oversight for editors and writers, especially for stories that delve deeply into the science of a field.
• Help develop, implement, and hone Physics Today’s multiplatform editorial strategy.
• Identify and evaluate story ideas about noteworthy and interesting developments and evergreen topics across the gamut of physical‑science fields.
• Work with the Visual Experience team and others to develop and incorporate a broad palette of visuals and other media that enhance the reader experience, taking full, creative advantage of digital storytelling opportunities.
• Author content, as needed, with exceptional narrative flair and technical proficiency.
• Mentor junior staff on writing and editing.
• Foster a creative environment where new ideas are encouraged, tested, and refined.

• Develop a deep understanding of the Physics Today audience and its evolving information needs in order to continuously improve content relevance, engagement, and impact.
• Attend scientific meetings and maintain broad contact with members of the physical‑sciences community.
• Contribute to and advance the overall editorial effort of Physics Today.

• A passion for science and science communication.
• Graduate degree, PhD preferred, in physics or a closely related field, or equivalent extensive knowledge of the physical‑sciences research community.
• At least 8 years of professional science writing and editing experience, preferably at a scientific publication.
• Mentoring/supervision skills.
• Strong critical‑thinking skills and ability to solve substantive editing problems.
• Exceptional talent for storytelling and for explaining complex physics‑related topics to a broad audience of scientists.
• Masterful editorial judgment, creative prowess, and meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and mentoring skills.
• Ability to learn new things quickly and independently.
• Ability to multitask, handle multiple assignments and priorities on varying timescales, and meet deadlines.

Compensation: $ – $

AIP embraces a flexible hybrid work environment to balance in‑person collaborative work with remote work. The team works in a flexible, hybrid schedule and reports to our offices in College Park, Maryland, and Washington, DC, as needed. Employees are required to reside in the DC Metro regions of Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC.

We offer comprehensive benefits, including generous paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, an annual retirement contribution of 10% of base pay, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and more.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.