Get involved with peer review

16 September 2019

As a publisher, we know that the best way to maintain the quality of our journals is to ensure that all articles undergo rigorous peer review. As a membership charity, we also know that Early Career Microbiologists (ECMs) are the future of the Society and of our journals. In 2018 we decided to launch a new journal, Access Microbiology, under an innovative editorial model which put ECMs into decision-making roles as Editor Mentees. The model has succeeded beyond our expectations, proving the energy, skill and enthusiasm of our ECM Editor Mentees. This week we are excited to launch a complementary new initiative to help other ECMs develop their peer review skills: Reviewer Mentees.

PhD students and post-docs already perform many high-quality peer reviews under the guidance of their supervisors but may not gain recognition for doing so. Under our Reviewer Mentee initiative, ECMs would be acknowledged as part of the journal’s Review Board and, like any reviewer for the Society journals, have the option to have their review activities deposited in their ORCID records.

If you are interested in becoming a Reviewer Mentee, you’ll need to:

• Be a member of the Microbiology Society;
• Be completing a PhD (or equivalent) or be undertaking post-doctoral research;
• Have the support of your PI or another microbiologist who is willing to act as Reviewer Mentor;
• Apply through Mi Society.

More experienced members of the Society can also join our Review Boards by emailing [email protected] indicating the journal you wish to join, and including a link to your ORCID record or institutional research page.

Tasha Mellins-Cohen, the Director of Publishing, added; “The Microbiology Society journals have a role to play in helping our members’ careers, both as venues for publishing research and as a way to boost members’ profiles. The Reviewer Mentee initiative is another opportunity for ECMs to get involved in and recognised for roles that would not traditionally be open to them.”

The week of 16 September 2019 is Peer Review Week, and this year’s theme is Quality in Peer Review.