Scientific Editor,
Dr. Marcus White

After studying for an MA degree in chemistry at Oxford University, I moved to Cambridge University to do research on the synthesis and reactions of macrocyclc thiazolium salts under the supervision of Dr. Finian Leeper. I completed my PhD in 2001 and then undertook industrially funded postdoctoral research on chiral, small-ring phosphorus heterocycles in Prof. François Mathey’s laboratories at the Ecole Polytechnique, Paris. Following that, I held a second, short postdoctoral position at the University of Vienna, working on the total synthesis of the natural product Macquarimicin C in the group of Prof. Edda Gössinger.

Although I didn’t want to follow the traditional route into academic or industrial research any further, I did want a career that would enable me to continue to use my knowledge of organic chemistry, as well as to learn new skills and gain experience in other areas. Accordingly, I joined Thieme Chemistry in 2005 to work in the Science of Synthesis editorial office. The editorial staff for Science of Synthesis have the opportunity to become involved with every stage of the publishing process of a large and ambitious project, from the early stages of advising authors on the format and contents of their contributions through to the final pre-publication checks. In common with the other members of the editorial team, I carry out a variety of tasks such as copyediting, proofreading, and coordinating individual volumes, but I currently have particular responsibility for reviewing and providing editorial feedback on draft manuscripts, and for producing the covers and title pages for the printed version of the product. In addition to editorial duties, all members of the editorial team are expected to provide occasional support to the sales and marketing department. This usually involves attendance at conferences, which gives us an opportunity to talk to customers of all of Thieme Chemistry’s products, as well to meet authors and Volume Editors. Furthermore, I am responsible for organizing the nomination process and award of the Thieme–IUPAC prize, which is presented every two years to a chemist under the age of 40, whose work is judged to have had a significant impact on the field of synthetic organic chemistry.