Editorial Leadership
Editorial leadership
JERN is led by scholars committed to rigorous, cumulative, and interdisciplinary science.
Editorial decisions are based on scientific importance, methodological strength, theoretical contribution, and fit with the journal’s mission.
Founding editorial leadership
JERN’s founding editors bring complementary expertise in cognitive neuroscience, applied linguistics, language learning, aging, and experience-related change.
John G. Grundy, Ph.D., FPsyS
John G. Grundy is a cognitive neuroscientist whose work examines how language experience, aging, and other sustained experiences shape cognitive control, neural efficiency, and cognitive reserve.
As Co-Founding Editor-in-Chief, he leads JERN’s scientific direction, editorial standards, and manuscript evaluation and decision-making.
Febriana Grundy, Ph.D.
Febriana Grundy is an applied linguist whose research uses corpus linguistics to study learner language, academic and disciplinary writing, and second language development. Her work examines how linguistic experience, instructional context, and technology shape writing development across educational settings, including project-based language learning and the intersections of artificial intelligence, writing, and language learning.
As Co-Founding Editor-in-Chief, she contributes to JERN’s scientific direction, editorial review, policy development, and coordination of manuscripts across the publication process.
Editorial governance
JERN maintains clear separation between editorial evaluation and financial considerations. Article processing charges are assessed only after acceptance and do not influence editorial decisions.
Editorial independence
Decisions are based on the manuscript’s scientific contribution, evidence, transparency, and relevance to JERN.
Conflict management
Editors recuse themselves when personal, professional, or financial relationships could compromise impartial judgment.
Qualified review
Reviewers and handling editors are selected for relevant expertise and are expected to provide constructive, evidence-based evaluation.
Editorial Board
JERN is assembling an interdisciplinary Editorial Board representing the major domains, methods, and populations relevant to experience-related neuroplasticity.
Founding Advisory Board
The Founding Advisory Board provides high-level scientific guidance and helps ensure that JERN reflects the breadth of research relevant to experience-related neuroplasticity.
Fergus I. M. Craik, Ph.D., FRSC, FRS
A pioneering cognitive psychologist whose foundational work transformed understanding of human memory, attention, and cognitive aging. Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Royal Society (UK); recipient of the Killam Prize and the Association for Psychological Science’s William James Fellow Award.
Memory · attention · cognitive aging
Kirk I. Erickson, Ph.D.
A leading investigator of exercise-related brain plasticity whose landmark randomized trial demonstrated increases in hippocampal volume and improvements in memory following aerobic exercise in older adults. Mardian J. Blair Endowed Chair of Neuroscience and Fellow of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research.
Physical activity · cognitive aging · brain health · neuroplasticity
Judith F. Kroll, Ph.D.
An internationally recognized pioneer in bilingual language processing whose research has reshaped understanding of interactions between language and cognition. Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science; founding editor of Bilingualism: Language and Cognition.
Bilingualism · language processing · second-language learning · cognitive neuroscience
Yaakov Stern, Ph.D.
A leading architect of the cognitive reserve framework whose theoretical and neuroimaging research has advanced understanding of resilience to aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Florence Irving Professor of Neuropsychology at Columbia University and chair of the Reserve and Resilience Collaboratory.
Cognitive reserve · cognitive aging · Alzheimer’s disease · neuroimaging
Action Editors
Action Editors oversee peer review and editorial evaluation for manuscripts within their areas of expertise.
Chandramallika Basak, Ph.D.
An influential researcher on cognitive training, complex skill learning, and the neural mechanisms of transfer in aging, including experimental work on strategy-game training. Director of the Lifespan Neuroscience and Cognition Laboratory at UT Dallas and recipient of an Early Career Research Award.
Cognitive training · attention · working memory · cognitive aging
Jessica A. Bernard, Ph.D.
A leading investigator of cerebellar contributions to cognition, movement, and neurocognitive aging, including research on early changes associated with neurodegenerative disease. Ella McFadden Endowed Professor, Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and 2025 Chancellor’s EDGES Fellow.
Cerebellum · cognitive and motor aging · neuroimaging · brain stimulation
Marco Calabria, Ph.D.
An established researcher in bilingual language control, cognitive reserve, aphasia, and neurodegenerative disease. Associate Editor of Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, with additional leadership in doctoral research and training.
Bilingualism · language control · cognitive aging · neurodegenerative disease
Ian M. McDonough, Ph.D.
An established researcher in memory, cognitive aging, and the influence of lifestyle and environmental factors on brain health. Editor-in-Chief of Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition and recipient of the NIH Matilda White Riley Early Stage Investigator Paper Award.
Memory · cognitive aging · neuroimaging · brain health
Additional editors and Editorial Board members will be listed as appointments are confirmed.
