PEER REVIEW POLICY
Molecule Journals employ a rigorous peer review process to ensure that all submitted manuscripts are of high quality and make a significant contribution to the field. All submitted manuscripts will undergo a single-blind peer review model, in which the identities of the reviewers are kept anonymous from the authors, but the authors’ identities are known to the reviewers, to reduce the potential for bias and ensure a fair and impartial evaluation of the manuscript.
Initial Screening
All submissions will first be screened by the editorial office to ensure that they meet the journal’s scope and formatting requirements. Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements will be returned to the authors without review. The editor-in-chief may also reject submissions that do not appear to be of sufficient quality or importance to be considered for publication.
Peer Review
Manuscripts that pass the initial screening will be assigned to at least two independent reviewers. The reviewers will evaluate the manuscript for originality, clarity, methodology, data analysis, and significance to the field. They will also assess whether the manuscript adheres to ethical standards and provides appropriate citations to previous research.
Reviewers will submit their evaluations through an online system, which will remain confidential. The reviewers will be asked to recommend one of the following decisions:
- Accept the manuscript as is
- Accept the manuscript with minor revisions
- Accept the manuscript with major revisions
- Reject the manuscript
The editor-in-chief will consider the reviewers’ comments and make a final decision. If the decision is to accept the manuscript with revisions, the authors will be given a deadline to submit a revised version of the manuscript. The revised manuscript will be evaluated by the editor-in-chief or one of the original reviewers to ensure that the revisions have been addressed satisfactorily.
Appeals
If the authors disagree with the editor-in-chief’s decision, they may appeal the decision by submitting a letter to the editorial office. The letter should explain the reasons for the appeal and provide any additional information that may be relevant. The editor-in-chief will consider the appeal and may request additional reviews.
Confidentiality
All submissions and reviews will be kept confidential. Reviewers will be asked to maintain the confidentiality of the manuscript and not to share it with others or to discuss it with the authors. The identity of the reviewers will also be kept confidential, unless they choose to reveal their identity in their review.
Final Decision
The editor-in-chief’s decision is final. The journal does not accept resubmissions of rejected manuscripts, except in rare cases where the authors can provide compelling evidence that the reviewers’ evaluations were biased or unfair. Accepted manuscripts will be published online, subject to copyediting and layout formatting.
