If your question or issue has not been addressed in this section, feel free to contact us at younginvestigators@stonybrook.edu.

How do I join?

Staff applications for our Fall 2022 issue are now open until August 10th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Please click here for more information. If you would like to be emailed reminders for the deadline, feel free to subscribe here.

What kinds of articles is SBYIR interested in publishing?

SBYIR is interested in publishing articles that advocate and disseminate information about new and exciting research. We pride ourselves in making news about cutting-edge research accessible to a wide audience. Our topics of interest are not only limited to the science, technology engineering, and math fields; we also encourage the inclusion of research in all fields of science, such as psychology, sociology, and astronomy. We publish student articles on faculty research, original undergraduate student research, as well as interviews with professors.

Do I need previous writing or research experience in order to join?

No, you don’t need any prior research experience to join SBYIR. We assess your application on your ability to write or edit well.

What kinds of articles does SBYIR publish? 

We have five types of article formats that we are seeking for our spring publication: personal interviews, technical interviews, research reviews, and primary research articles. Most writers only specialize in 1-2 article formats. Personal interviews are held with Stony Brook researchers, detailing their story. Technical interviews are held with Stony Brook researchers, and are meant to elucidate the research that they are conducting. Research reviews are syntheses of current primary research articles to educate the public on a novel development or scientific trend. Primary research articles are intended only for undergraduates who have completed and/or are currently conducting research on campus who would like to have their work published. Data collection must have already been completed.

What kind of staff positions can be held in SBYIR? 

We host a wide variety in the staff positions that we offer, so that members can get a unique experience and involvement with the scientific publication process.

Editorial positions include copy editors, associate editors, and peer reviewers. 

• Copy editors- responsible for grammatical editing and correct citations in the final pieces selected for the journal. They work directly with research-highlights writers to develop their pieces, which are written on a monthly basis. 
• Associate editors- responsible for understanding and correcting the content that articles contain. They work closely with a number of writers, who they meet with on a weekly basis, to discuss potential ideas to develop their essay over the span of a few months.
• Peer Reviewers– Peer reviewers are responsible for checking the scientific accuracy of journal pieces. They will provide constructive feedback to the writers about the scientific content of their piece in order to improve accuracy.

The layout staff is composed of layout editors and graphic designers. 

• Layout editors- responsible for the artistic direction and general flow of the journal pages. They work with the writers and associate editors to design the layout of the articles in the physical journal.
• Graphic editors– responsible for working with writers to craft and searching for artwork or scientific diagrams that illustrate the points that they are trying to make.

Finally, cabinet members work with the President to extend SBYIR’s presence on campus and achieve outreach and organizational goals. They are also responsible for planning all SBYIR events, in particular, our annual colloquium at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters. In addition, our webmaster is a member of the cabinet team that is specifically involved in maintaining our website. They are responsible for regularly posting all of the research highlights on our website.

When and how frequently is the journal published?

Our journal is published every semester, and is made available to the public at our annual colloquia in November and April.

Where else can I hear about SBYIR?

We hold an annual symposium during which we release our journal and host distinguished researchers as guest lecturers. Our previous guest speakers have included Nobel Laureate Dr. Martin Chalfie, the “Queen of Carbon Science,” Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus, prominent cancer researcher, Dr. Robert Weinberg, and renowned marine biologist, Dr. Sylvia Earle.  We also maintain a presence at URECA, the annual research symposium, and co-sponsor events throughout the year.