We spoke with Dr. Valentina A. Andreeva about their time working as a First Editor on the Journal for Nutritional Science, and how the field of nutrition research is evolving.

Can you tell us about your current role and what led you to specialise in nutrition?

I have a degree in preventive medicine and have gradually veered towards epidemiology which gradually led me to nutritional epidemiology. I have been First Editor for a little over a year.

How did you first become familiar with the Journal of Nutritional Science?

I first became familiar with the Journal of Nutritional Science when I was working in the field of nutritional epidemiology as a researcher.

What led you to take on the role of First Editor for Journal of Nutritional Science?

I took on the role of First Editor for Journal of Nutritional Science so I could view and contribute to the publication process from the other side, and not solely as an author.

Can you share with us your experience working as a First Editor for Journal of Nutritional Science? What are some of the highlights and challenges you have encountered? Are there any memorable experiences or achievements you would like to share from your time working with the journal?

I am happy to be able to work as a First Editor for the journal as it means I am able to contribute to the functioning of the journal. It can be challenging to recruit peer reviews, so it is always very rewarding when a peer reviewer submits a thorough evaluation of a manuscript.

 Looking back on your journey with Journal of Nutritional Science, how would you describe the overall impact it has had on your professional life and scholarly contributions? What does this journal mean to you?

Being involved with the journal has helped me grow as a professional and as a researcher. It has opened up my scientific horizons and at the same time has helped me improve my communication skills. Specifically, I feel that in my communication with the authors, I am now better able to synthesise information, highlight strong points, and convey limitations in a constructive fashion.

Tell us a bit about your life outside of the journal: what is your current job title? Where are you based in the world?

I am an associate professor of epidemiology involved in teaching (Master’s in Nutrition and Public Health) and research at Sorbonne Paris Nord University in Paris, France.

 In a few sentences, can you describe the focus of your work or your specialism within the field?

I am a senior epidemiologist and a behavioural scientist with expertise in chronic disease epidemiology, nutritional epidemiology, mental-physical comorbidity, multimorbidity, prevention research, and behavioural health promotion especially via proper nutrition and physical activity. I am proficient in research methods, health promotion and disease prevention theory, and assessment tools development and validation. In addition, I am an ad hoc grant proposal and abstract reviewer for multiple funding organizations, as well as peer reviewer for > 40 indexed journals, and a member of several public health and nutrition professional non-profit organizations.

What are some current challenges or trends in this field that you find particularly compelling or concerning?

I find the capabilities and the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence both compelling and concerning in this field.

What advice would you give to early-career researchers interested in pursuing a career in nutritional science based on your own experiences and insights?

I would suggest staying open to research opportunities, actively seeking collaborations, and gradually becoming more focused rather than more spread out in terms of their research interests.

How do you see the field of nutrition evolving in the future, and what areas do you believe hold the most promise for further exploration and discovery?

It seems to me that the area of nutritional/dietary assessment will evolve, which is necessary. New user-friendly tools hold promise in terms of providing rigorous and accurate assessment of dietary intake (not only food groups but also regarding measures of dietary diversity, dietary deficiencies, etc.).

If Dr. Andreeva’s experience sounds like something you might be interested in and you have expertise in nutrition status, malnutrition and/or diabetes, we are currently hiring for new First Editors to join the team! Find out how to apply here.