For 17 years I was a journal editor. I was not a researcher serving as a volunteer on a journal editorial board or a part-time academic editor also running my own lab; I was a professional editor at a broad life sciences weekly journal. Since stepping down as the Editor of the journal, I have … Read more
Why are these preprints not proceeding into the scholarly peer-reviewed literature? What does this mean for citations?
One of the mysteries in scholarly publishing is the peer-review process. I created this short video to help scientists understand the process editors use in selecting reviewers. I describe it as a game of dodge ball. The editor typically has a large pool of potential reviewers who have the right expertise and scientific background, but … Read more
Peer review of manuscripts and grants is part of the scientific endeavor and is an important responsibility of research scientists. However, how to do this critical task is rarely taught. Instead, many junior or early career scientists are handed a manuscript or invited to serve as a reviewer without much guidance. Like editors, reviewers serve … Read more
Rejection is a reality for scientists, and a major responsibility of journal editors. Researchers performing good science—well controlled studies with solid methodologies that produce clear, reproducible results that advance scientific knowledge or extend scientific findings—can find themselves struggling to be published. A selective journal with a relatively high acceptance rate of 20% will be sending … Read more