Full story
Call for Subject-Matter Experts and Potential Co-Authors
Chemical Biology of Microbial Interactions
Expressions of interest are invited from established researchers and subject-matter experts interested in joining the proposed scholarly book project, Chemical Biology of Microbial Interactions.
Proposal status
The proposal is currently under consideration by Springer’s microbiology programme. The publisher has recognised the topic as timely and potentially capable of filling a gap in the existing microbiology literature.
Progression of the proposal will depend on assembling a strong interdisciplinary team with demonstrable, first-hand research experience in microbial interactions and closely related areas.
About the book
Chemical Biology of Microbial Interactions will provide a rigorous and integrative treatment of the chemical mechanisms that mediate interactions among microorganisms and between microorganisms, their hosts and their environments.
The book will connect fundamental chemical biology with microbial ecology, molecular microbiology, natural-product research, systems biology and translational applications.
The intended readership includes researchers, postgraduate students and practitioners seeking scientifically rigorous, experience-based and subject-specific insight into microbial communication, competition, cooperation and adaptation.
Areas of expertise sought
Experts are particularly welcome from areas including:
- Chemical ecology and chemical biology of microorganisms
- Microbial interactions and community ecology
- Microbial signalling, quorum sensing and quorum quenching
- Secondary metabolites and microbial natural products
- Biosynthetic gene clusters and genome-enabled discovery
- Microbe–microbe, host–microbe and plant–microbe interactions
- Microbial competition, cooperation, antagonism and cross-feeding
- Biofilms and polymicrobial communities
- Symbiosis, microbiomes and metabolite-mediated interactions
- Chemical defence, virulence and pathogenesis
- Antimicrobial resistance and interspecies signalling
- Metabolomics, proteomics and multi-omics approaches
- Synthetic biology and engineering of microbial interactions
- Translational applications in medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, food systems and environmental science
Who should express interest?
Prospective collaborators should ideally have:
- A PhD or equivalent research qualification in a relevant discipline
- Substantial first-hand research involvement in microbial interactions or a directly related field
- A strong publication record demonstrating subject-specific expertise
- Experience producing rigorous scholarly or scientific writing
- The ability to contribute actively to the intellectual development and preparation of the book
- Commitment to collegial, timely and internationally collaborative authorship
- Capacity to contribute to the sample chapter and subsequent manuscript development
Senior and mid-career researchers with clearly established expertise are especially encouraged to respond.
Expressions of interest are welcomed from researchers working across different organisms, ecosystems, geographic regions and methodological traditions.
Provisional authorship model
The final structure of the book will depend on the number, expertise and complementarity of the selected collaborators.
Authored monograph
If a focused team of no more than five authors is assembled, the project may proceed as an authored monograph, with all authors named on the book cover.
Edited volume
If a larger group of recognised specialists is recruited, the proposal may be restructured as an edited volume, with experts contributing chapters within their respective areas of expertise.
Express interest
Researchers interested in participating are invited to submit an expression of interest outlining their principal area of expertise, relevant research experience, and potential contribution to the project.
Contact: rmaghembe@sfuchas.ac.tz
Cc: rmaghembe@gmail.com
Suggested subject: Expression of Interest: Chemical Biology of Microbial Interactions Book Project