Reviewer Conduct
Peer-Reviewed · Open Access · Biological and Chemical Sciences
Reviewer Conduct
International Journal of Bio Sciences and Chemistry
The International Journal of Bio Sciences and Chemistry expects reviewers to handle every manuscript with professionalism, discretion, and respect. Reviewers are entrusted with unpublished scientific research and should exercise appropriate care when evaluating, commenting on, and handling materials received during the peer-review process.
Confidentiality
Manuscripts under review and all associated information must be treated as confidential. Reviewers should not share manuscripts, reviewer reports, editorial correspondence, research data, or other review-related materials with colleagues, students, or other individuals unless the editorial team has granted permission.
Information obtained through peer review must not be discussed outside the review process. Reviewers should also take reasonable precautions when storing, accessing, or transferring manuscript files and other confidential materials.
Use of Unpublished Information
Reviewers must not use unpublished ideas, findings, experimental results, research data, methodologies, or other information obtained from a manuscript for their own research, publications, teaching, or other purposes without appropriate authorization.
Reviewers must not gain an unfair academic or professional advantage from information obtained through the review process before it becomes publicly available.
Reviewer Comments
Review comments should be clear, constructive, objective, and respectful. Criticism must address the scientific quality and academic content of the manuscript rather than the author personally.
Comments should help the editor understand the reviewer's assessment and, where appropriate, help authors improve the clarity, methodology, presentation, and scientific reliability of their work.
Reviewers should avoid offensive, dismissive, discriminatory, or irrelevant remarks. Scientific disagreements should be expressed professionally and supported by appropriate reasoning or evidence.
Independent Review
Reviewers should prepare their own independent assessment of each manuscript and must not delegate the review to another person without prior permission from the editorial team.
Reviewers should disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could affect their impartiality. They must not attempt to influence the editorial process improperly or communicate directly with authors about a manuscript under review unless the editorial team specifically authorizes such communication.
Handling Review Materials
Review materials must be handled securely and must not be copied, distributed, or retained for purposes unrelated to the review.
Reviewers should take appropriate care when handling unpublished experimental data, scientific images, laboratory findings, biological information, chemical analyses, and other research materials contained in submitted manuscripts.
When a review assignment has ended, reviewers should follow the journal's instructions regarding access to, storage of, and disposal of review materials, subject to applicable confidentiality and recordkeeping requirements.
Reviewer Conduct Concerns
If a reviewer becomes aware of a concern involving confidentiality, inappropriate use of unpublished information, a conflict of interest, or improper handling of a manuscript, they should inform the editorial team promptly.
Concerns about reviewer conduct may be considered in accordance with the journal's Complaints and Appeals policy, where appropriate.
The journal expects all reviewers to uphold the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, academic integrity, and responsible scientific evaluation throughout the peer-review process.