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That鈥檚 how Andrew Dillin鈥檚 relationship with Genes & Development (G&D) begins. The scientific journal, published by 黑料吃瓜资源 (CSHL) Press, fields hundreds of article submissions each year. It鈥檚 considered one of the top publications in all of developmental and molecular biology. In 1997, Andrew Dillin, then a graduate student, submits a paper on transcriptional silencing to G&D. He hopes for acceptance, to have his discovery showcased alongside other breakthroughs. What he receives turns out to be even more valuable.
Looking back on the rejection letter, Dillin recalls, 鈥淭he comments and support that [former] Editor Terri Grodzicker provided were crucial for helping me understand my findings within the larger field of our study.鈥� Grodzicker鈥檚 words don鈥檛 just inspire Dillin to build on his research. They teach him the true value of the peer-review process. It鈥檚 not only about finding and sharing 鈥渢he best鈥� scientific research. It鈥檚 about helping scientists see their own research in a new light.
Now, Dillin is back at G&D. Only he鈥檚 not an author. He鈥檚 the journal鈥檚 new editor-in-chief. In the years since his rejection, Dillin has had an extremely successful career. An investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, he is considered a leader in the field of aging research. His work focuses on how the aging process affects an organism鈥檚 whole-body physiology. It鈥檚 an area of growing interest at CSHL and labs around the world, and into this exciting field.
Of course, Dillin brings more than this expertise to G&D. 鈥淢y goal as editor-in-chief is to help G&D continue to be as streamlined and as transparent as possible in the review process,鈥� he says. While acknowledging the difficulties that scientific journals face today, Dillin is optimistic about the and science communication in general. In his eyes, it鈥檚 not only about establishing consensus but also building communities. It鈥檚 not just a competition. It鈥檚 a conversation. And Dillin looks forward to helping more of the world鈥檚 most gifted scientists find their voice鈥攅ven in rejection.
Written by: Samuel Diamond, Senior Communications Strategist | [email protected] | 516-367-5055