Sofia Garakyaraghi

Background

About Sofia Garakyaraghi

Innovative chemist, scholarly publishing professional, and science communicator with a passion for advancing research accessibility, open science, innovation in peer review, and interdisciplinary collaboration. As Associate Publisher at the American Chemical Society (ACS), I lead the strategic development of a diverse portfolio of journals, including ACS Central Science, JACS Au, Chemistry of Materials, ACS Materials Letters, ACS Electrochemistry, and ACS’s agricultural & food journals. I manage a high-performing team of staff and oversee an extensive editorial network of nearly 100 Editors. Key Leadership & Impact: Spearheaded successful expansion of ACS open-access journals and proprietary hybrid journals, strengthening visibility and accessibility of groundbreaking research. I've led the launch of 5 journals so far in my time at ACS and am responsible for the strategic development of new journal products pipeline for future launches, driving innovation and growth within ACS Publications. Lead a team of 3 full-time staff members, including 2 Managing Editors, and 1 Coordinating Editor, as well as a global and diverse Editorial Team including 5 Editors-in-Chief, 4 Deputy Editors, 6 Executive Editors, 70+ Senior/Associate Editors. Responsible for recruitment, hiring, retention, and talent development of my team. Championed Transparent Peer Review at ACS, which allows readers insight into the dialogue between authors and reviewers during the peer-review process, fostering trust and integrity in research. https://axial.acs.org/publishing/peer-review-week-2022-4 Actively engage in cross-functional initiatives, collaborating within ACS and across scientific societies to advance ACS's vision of a world built on science. Represent ACS Publications at conferences, panels, and community events to advocate for open science and science communication. Background: Ph.D. Chemist with expertise in photochemistry, photophysics, and spectroscopy. Strong communicator with the ability to present complex scientific research to diverse audiences. Former Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University (Scholes Research Group). Ph.D. in Chemistry from North Carolina State University (Castellano Research Group). Extensive knowledge of photophysical and photochemical processes and spectroscopic techniques for photophysical characterization and investigation of excited state dynamics (ultrafast and supra nanosecond time scales). Broad experience leading investigation of various molecular and nanocrystal based systems for solar energy conversion applications.