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An Early Career Researcher's experience of publishing in Ecosphere

In this interview, we speak with Adriana Romero Olivares, a microbial ecologist whose research sheds light on the vital but often overlooked role of fungi in ecosystems. We delve into her groundbreaking study, published in Ecosphere, exploring how climate change drivers like drought and disturbance impact fungi in dryland ecosystems. Adriana shares her unique connection to this research, shaped by her upbringing in Mexico's desert landscape, and reflects on her early career journey navigating the publishing process. Her story highlights the challenges and triumphs of an emerging researcher dedicated to understanding how fungi influence ecosystem responses to global climate change.

Adriana's path into microbial ecology has been deeply personal and shaped by her experiences in the deserts of Mexico. After earning her PhD at UC Irvine, where she studied global warming's impact on fungal communities in Alaska's boreal forests, Adriana went on to expand her research at the University of New Hampshire. Today, as an Assistant Professor at New Mexico State University, she leads a lab focused on understanding the microbial mechanisms that govern ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change. Adriana's work emphasizes the crucial role fungi play in ecosystem health and sustainability, offering important insights that may help protect our natural resources and ensure environmental resilience in a changing climate.

Could you tell us about your research background and the specific study you published in Ecosphere? What was the focus of your research?

I'm a microbial ecologist, and my work sits at the intersection of cell microbiology and ecology. My research explores how climate change impacts microbes and how those microbial responses, in turn, affect ecosystem-scale processes. I've always had a special connection to fungi — though microbes are a huge group of organisms, fungi have been the primary focus of much of my work.

The study we published in Ecosphere investigated how fungi in dryland ecosystems are responding to global change drivers, particularly drought and disturbance. These are major stressors in the areas I study, so the research aimed to better understand how fungi are responding to these shifts, and to explore what's happening at the ecosystem level.

And why is that area of research important to you?

There are several reasons why this research is so important to me. For one, fungi are often overlooked in dryland ecosystems. There's a common misconception that deserts lack fungi, but they are actually quite present and play a significant role. Being born and raised in the desert, this is a personal and meaningful area of study for me.

Moreover, dryland ecosystems are underrepresented in global climate change research. This study allowed me to address three key points: highlighting the importance of fungi in desert ecosystems, exploring how climate change impacts these environments, and connecting my work to the region where I grew up.

Why did you choose Ecosphere as the journal for your first publication?

Firstly, I appreciated the journal's broad scope. I didn't want to limit our research to a niche fungal-focused journal, as I wanted our findings to reach a wider audience. I felt it was crucial for people outside the fungi, climate change, or microbial ecology fields to see our work. By publishing in Ecosphere, we could show the broader ecological community that fungi do indeed play a role in dryland ecosystems, and that they are being impacted by global climate change.

The journal's wide reach was a major draw for me.

What was the process of submitting your paper to Ecosphere like? How did you find the submission system and the communications with the editorial team?

The submission process was smooth and straightforward, particularly when comparing to other journals I've submitted to. The platform was easy to use, and the instructions for uploading and submitting were clear. What stood out to me was the initial filtering process by the editorial team. They reviewed everything closely to ensure all necessary information was included and that the submission was in good shape.

For example, I initially forgot to include some important information related to bioinformatics. The editorial team caught this and requested that we submit our data to a formal repository rather than GitHub, which can be unreliable. This extra step ultimately ensured that our data was properly archived, citable, and would remain accessible regardless of any changes to individual accounts.

Although the process took a bit longer than expected — like submitting to a formal repository — it ultimately made everything smoother in the end. The thorough review process meant our submission was in great shape from the start.

As an early career researcher, how was your experience of the peer review and the revision process?

The peer review process went really well. This paper is especially meaningful to me because it was the first project from my lab. I started my lab in August 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, so things were challenging at the start. For a long time, it was just me and my lab tech working together, with my lab tech as the first author of the paper.

Submitting our first project was both exciting and nerve-wracking. I was very aware of the stakes, worrying about how the reviewers and editor might respond. However, the peer review experience was really positive. We went through a couple of rounds of revisions and received constructive feedback from the reviewers and editor. Their comments raised valid points and ultimately made the manuscript stronger.

Overall, the process was very smooth, and I was impressed by how invested the Ecosphere team was in providing helpful and detailed feedback. I can't say that's always been my experience with other journals, so it was nice to see the genuine effort from the editorial team.

How did you feel when you received the final acceptance of your paper?

It felt like a huge milestone. I was proud of the work we had done and excited that it was finally out there for the world to see. There's always that moment of relief when you finally get the green light. I remember thinking, "We did it!" when our very first lab publication was accepted. I shared a high-five with my lab tech, and we both agreed: "This is the beginning of our research program."

Could you share your thoughts on your overall publishing experience with Ecosphere, from submission through to publication? Are there any particular highlights or challenges from that journey that you would like to discuss?

Overall, everything went smoothly. I decided to be open with the editor in my cover letter, mentioning that this was the first paper from my lab and that it was completed under COVID-19 restrictions. I wanted to make sure the editor understood the unique challenges we faced.

The process itself was pretty typical: we received reviews within a couple of months (which is standard for high-quality journals), submitted our revisions, and received feedback again. The paper was published a few months later.

One thing that really stands out to me is the importance of publishing in society journals. Since Ecosphere is part of the ESA family, it means a lot to me. ESA is my home society, the conference I attend every year, and where most of my colleagues and collaborators are involved. Having a paper published in an ESA journal shows that our work is important, credible and impactful within the broader ecological community.

What advice would you give to other early career researchers who are considering publishing their first study in a journal like Ecosphere?

I'd say go for it. Think carefully about who you want your research to reach. If you're hoping for a broader audience — especially those working at the intersection of your field — Ecosphere is an excellent choice. The editorial team is friendly and approachable, and the reviewers are constructive and invested in improving your work. I had a very positive experience, and I'd encourage other early-career researchers to submit to Ecosphere as well. It was a really rewarding experience for me.

How do you feel your first publication has aided your career development and your profile within the ecology community?

As I mentioned, the ESA is my home society. I attend their conference every year, and all my colleagues and collaborators are involved. Being able to publish in one of their journals is a big deal — it really shows that our work is important to the broader ecological community.

I'm submitting my promotion and tenure package this summer, and a paper published in an ESA journal definitely strengthens my case. It shows that the research from my lab is solid, and that we are making meaningful contributions to the field. Plus, as an Excellence in Ecology Scholar for ESA, their support further emphasizes the significance of this publication. Having this paper out there is a key part of my career development, and it's something I'm really proud of.