brings together research at the intersection of the physical and life sciences. Its reflects this interdisciplinary mission, drawing on expertise that spans mathematics, biology, engineering and materials science. Below, three members share their backgrounds, their roles at the journal, and their perspectives on interdisciplinary research.
Mick Roberts, Senior Editor
Please introduce yourself and tell us about your background?
I started with a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bristol and am now Emeritus Professor in Mathematical Biology at Massey University in New Zealand. After obtaining a PhD in mathematics, I worked for a government research laboratory investigating control policies for animal parasites. Participating in the programme on epidemic models at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences in 1993 established my relationship with Dutch scientists, a collaboration that has continued to this day.
Can you describe your role on the journal?
As a Senior Editor my main task is to recommend to the journal whether a paper should be accepted for publication. I look at the assessments from the Associate Editor and referees, take a look at the submission myself, then add a few notes and my decision.
What advice would you give to a researcher considering submitting to Interface?
A submission should be truly interdisciplinary, that is it should contain material of interest to both physical and life scientists. It must be original, readable, and tell a coherent story.
What is the most challenging part of being an Editor?
You receive a paper that looks as if it has something to say but is only peripheral to your expertise. One referee thinks it is brilliant, but another has a negative view. These are the hardest decisions to make.
Why do you feel interdisciplinary research is so important?
It is important to understand why something happens, as well as what happens. When scientists from different disciplines work together, the simpler questions get asked. Questions like, “Are you sure?”, “How do you know that?”, and “Where is the evidence?”. These questions can challenge the expert to reevaluate their understanding of the process.
Kirsty Bolton, Associate Editor
Please introduce yourself and tell us about your background?
I am a lecturer in Mathematical Sciences at the University of Nottingham, with research interests in infectious disease dynamics. I began my academic career in physics and completed a PhD in astrophysics, before moving into epidemic modelling in a deliberate effort to work on problems with more immediate real-world impact. One reason that I particularly enjoy epidemic modelling is that it is an intrinsically interdisciplinary field, and I have enjoyed collaborating with colleagues across immunology, virology, behavioural science and public health.
Can you describe your role on the journal?
My role involves assessing new submissions for quality and scope and, when recommending them for review, selecting appropriate potential reviewers. I then synthesise the reviewer reports to recommend whether the manuscript should be accepted, revised, or rejected. Throughout this process, I’m supported by the Senior Editors and Interface editorial team.
What are you working on at the moment?
One of my main projects is organising an INI funded programme, ‘’, which aims to bring together researchers from epidemic modelling, energy systems, behavioural science, complex systems, and statistics to advance behavioural modelling in both energy and health.
What advice would you give to anyone taking on their first Editorial role?
Be prepared to set aside regular time for editorial tasks. When you encounter trickier cases, asking questions of the Interface editorial team or Senior Editor is especially helpful. I’m still refining my own approach to time management, but I’ve found that reading a new submission or review as soon as it arrives, then letting it sit while I subconsciously process it, helps me make more efficient decisions.
Why do you feel interdisciplinary research is so important?
Creating space for work in the ‘boundary regions of science which offer the richest opportunities to the qualified investigator’ () is one reason I am excited to be an Editor for Interface. It is exciting to imagine the 'disciplines in waiting' () that might emerge as interdisciplinary work matures, much as mathematical biology has transformed medicine over the past century, to address pressing challenges such as pandemic preparedness and climate adaptation.
Mohammad Mirkhalaf, Associate Editor
Please introduce yourself and tell us about your background?
I have lived and worked in Iran, Singapore, Canada, Australia, and have visited many other places along the way. My formal training is in science and engineering, but my interests extend into psychology, philosophy and art.
Can you describe your role on the journal?
I serve as an Associate Editor, supporting the senior editorial team throughout different stages of the decision-making process. My role includes assessing submissions, selecting appropriate reviewers, and helping to guide manuscripts towards a clear editorial outcome.
What does a top-quality review look like for you?
In my opinion, peer review aims not only to assess whether a manuscript meets the journal’s standards, but also to help improve the quality of research more broadly. A strong review takes a step toward this ambitious goal. A high‑quality review is constructive, regardless of whether the recommendation is acceptance, revision or rejection. It helps ensure that the work builds appropriately on previous research, and that its contributions are robust and presented clearly.
What is your favourite part of being an Editor?
My favourite part is broadening my understanding of diverse research areas and how they interrelate. Forming an informed view of a manuscript requires at least a foundational understanding of the fields it touches; I enjoy this continuous learning.
Why do you feel interdisciplinary research is so important?
Many of today’s major challenges are multifaceted and addressing them requires deep understanding and collaboration across multiple disciplines. This does not undermine the importance of fundamental disciplinary research; all advances rely on strong foundations. Rather, interdisciplinary thinking helps us envision how these foundations can be integrated to tackle the most pressing problems of the present and future.
If you are working on research that sits at the interface of the physical and life sciences, the Editorial Board encourages you to consider Interface as a home for your paper. Authors can find full submission guidance on the journal’s .
Photo credits:
Header image: Vector illustration of social network in grayscale. iStock/aelitta.
Mohammad’s headshot: Pia Wikstrom, Communication Advisor, Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology.
