T: +27(0)51 401 9111 | info@ufs.ac.za | www.ufs.ac.za

PEER REVIEW: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

James du Preez 

Joint Editor-in-Chief, Biotechnology for Biofuels

 Dept. of Microbial, Biochemical & Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Challenges in finding reviewers

1. Reviewers selected from related articles

• A list of related articles from PubMed follows below, which may be useful in selecting reviewers. These results are generated by an automated PubMed search, using keywords that appear in the title and abstract, and we do not guarantee that they are the most appropriate.

• Relatedness: 33.8861 | Abstract Effect of inducers and process parameters on laccase production by Streptomyces psammoticus and its application in dye decolourization. Bioresour Technol 2008, 99: 4583-9Niladevi KN, Prema PBiotechnology Division, Regional Research Laboratory CSIR, Trivandrum 695 019, India.

• Relatedness: 33.5049 | Abstract Optimization of laccase production from Trametes versicolor by solid fermentation. Can J Microbiol 2007, 53: 245-51Jing D, Li P, Stagnitti F, Xiong XInstitute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.

• Relatedness: 28.9247 | Abstract Optimization, purification, and characterization of extracellular mesophilic alkaline cellulase from sponge-associated Marinobacter sp. MSI032. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2010, 162: 625-40Shanmughapriya S, Kiran GS, Selvin J, Thomas TA, Rani CDepartment of Microbiology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, India.

Challenges in finding reviewers

1. Reviewers selected from related articles

Identifying & establishing credibility of principal investigator

• Website of institution (main field of research of PI):

• Scopus / ISI Web of Knowledge: Number of articles in related field;

h index

- foreign language

- website difficult to navigate

- little or no information

2. Reviewers suggested by authors

Use of Scopus / ISI Web of Knowledge to determine if reviewers are appropriate.

- not in appropriate field of research

In most instances suggested reviewers are unsuitable:

- not a sufficiently experienced researcher

Challenges in finding reviewers

3. Find reviewers yourself

• Search for related published articles / Google search

• Use of Scopus / ISI Web of Knowledge to determine if reviewers are appropriate.

Challenges in finding reviewers

Problems

• Few reviewers accept invitation to review manuscript

• Reviewer accepts but fails to submit review

• Reviewer submits superficial review

Procedure to find reviewers is time consuming; might force editors to select unqualified reviewers

Challenges in finding reviewers

Solutions to ensure Quality and Timely reviews ?

1. Editorial Board

• Select on basis of expertise

• Easily accessible data on field of expertise; key words

• Try to always use member of editorial board as one of the reviewers to ensure quality review

Solutions to ensure Quality and Timely reviews ?

2. Data management software

• Data base of reviewers (including editorial board members) with searchable keywords

• History of reviewers:

• Mechanism to drop underperforming reviewers from data base (including editorial board members)

Manuscript handling, plus:

- Average score of review quality- Record of accepted & declined invitations (with date of last accepted/declined)- Indication of number of manuscripts currently under review and in the queue- Average time to submit review

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Select As Reviewer Name

Board Member Classifications

Reviewer Statistics (Agreed Invitations) I nvitation Statistics I nv. Alt. Prop.

Marcos Antonio de Morais J unior, PhD (EB Member/Reviewer) Universidade Federal de Pernambuco Reviewer Invited

Yes 3 Personal Class found

15.030: Yeasts 20: Physiology 50: Fermentation and bioprocesses

1 Class match with MS

* 20.020: Metabolism

Reviews in Progress: 1

Completed Reviews: 89

Un-assigned After Agreeing:

2

Terminated After Agreeing:

1

Last Review Agreed: 29 Apr 2013

Last Review Completed:

29 Apr 2013

Last Review Declined:

18 Apr 2013

Avg Days Outstanding:

12

Manuscript Rating: 0

Avg Review Rating: 78.0

Outstanding I nvitations:

1

Agreed: 93

Declined: 114

Un-invited Before Agreeing:

28

Terminated: 1

Total I nvitations: 237

Solutions to ensure Quality and Timely reviews ?

2. Data management software

• Data base of reviewers (including editorial board members) with searchable keywords

• History of reviewers:

• Mechanism to drop underperforming reviewers from data base (including editorial board members)

Manuscript handling, plus:

- Average score of review quality- Record of accepted & declined invitations (with date of last accepted /

declined)- Indication of number of manuscripts currently under review and in the

queue- Average time to submit review

BUT: Populate data base with qualified reviewers from the start! (Message should go out to editors)

THANK YOUDANKIE

T: +27(0)51 401 9111 | info@ufs.ac.za | www.ufs.ac.za