Thieme Chemistry’s Science of Synthesis Introduces First Early Career Advisory Board

Science of Synthesis (SOS)—Thieme’s definitive online reference resource with reviews on reliable synthetic methods in organic chemistry—is pleased to announce the initiation of an Early Career Advisory Board (ECAB) to help promote young talented chemists. 30 Chemists from around the world who have completed their PhD in the past 10 years or who are within the first 5 years of their independent research career will be the voices of their generation and important contributors to SOS’s evolution for the next two years.

Science of Synthesis has been designed to address the chemistry information needs of the organic synthetic chemist and, more specifically, to help all those involved in designing organic synthetic routes by providing trusted and reliable information on the best synthetic methods available. To this end, Thieme seeks advice from chemistry researchers and educators from all over the world. The Science of Synthesis Editorial Board comprises eminent scientists with a wealth of experience in organic synthesis. “Members of this board will typically guide SOS for many years providing continuity and strategic direction for the reference work”, says Dr. Fiona Shortt de Hernandez, senior director, Product Management, Strategic Partnerships, and Science of Synthesis at Thieme. “We are now looking forward to also getting new perspectives and insights from members of our community at the early stages of their independent careers and therefore have appointed an Early Career Advisory Board (ECAB) for the first time.”

Nominations and applications were sought in the past year and no less than 80 candidates personally applied or were nominated by editors and authors of Science of Synthesis. “We were in the fortunate position of being able to select the best candidates among many very good ones,” emphasizes Professor Alois Fürstner, director and Scientific Member at the Max-Planck Institute für Kohlenforschung in Mülheim an der Ruhr (Germany), editorial board member and editor-in-chief of Science of Synthesis. After the application process, all 30 young researchers who were invited to become members of the ECAB for the period 2022/2023 accepted straightaway.

Besides professional excellence in the field of organic chemistry at large, the editorial team and Professor Fürstner were keen to assemble a board that represents both global and thematic breadth. “I am proud to say, that the current ECAB members come from no less than 16 nations, including Brazil, South Korea, India, New Zealand, Australia and Israel. There is also a strong cohort from China, who represent the very productive local research community”, says Professor Fürstner. “With more than one third women, female scientists are also well represented.”

At regular intervals throughout the year, the editorial team will seek advice from the ECAB and invite them to give feedback on product developments. As ambassadors for Science of Synthesis they are also welcome to promote the project at conferences, through social media and their network and encourage usage of the digital product. “We are looking forward to working with each of them and engaging in discussions about Science of Synthesis thereby ensuring its continued relevance in the future”, says Dr. Fiona Shortt de Hernandez.

Profiles of all 30 members of the Science of Synthesis ECAB can be found here: https://www.thieme.de/de/thieme-chemistry/sos-early-career-advisory-board-166711.htm.