Donald Keith Roper, associate professor of chemical engineering, has been named associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology. IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization for the advancement of technology.

According to IEEE's website, Transactions on Nanotechnology "is devoted to the publication of manuscripts of archival value in the general area of nanotechnology, which is rapidly emerging as one of the fastest growing and most promising new technological developments for the next generation and beyond."

As associate editor, Roper will be jointly responsible for a recently announced Letters section of the journal. Letters are short, one or two page peer reviewed articles that highlight discoveries and scientific breakthroughs using a rapid peer-review mechanism. They often precede more traditional full-length papers. The publishers hope that this format will attract emerging research by authors from a broader spectrum of nanotechnology, as well as facilitate the quick dissemination of important developments.

"The letters section will feature nanoscience breakthroughs using a rapid review cycle," Roper explained. "Letters are intended to be brief but impactful announcements of a marked advance relative to state of the art in a particular field."

Roper will also be responsible for soliciting material in the field of biotechnology, initiating special and thematic issues and managing the peer review process in this area.