Information for Editors

Editorial Board Responsibilities

Editor-in-Chief Role and Responsibilities

The Editor-in-Chief is a champion of the journal and their discipline. They supervise journal activities, with the aim to ensure success of the journal within the scientific community. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the scientific quality and development of the journal. The Editor-in-Chief is expected to maintain connection to the Editorial Board and assist the Editorial Office in the management of the journal. The initial term is for 2 years, which entails:

  • Acting as ambassador for the journal, MDPI and Open Access publishing;
  • Scientific decisions about the journal's scope;
  • Inviting distinguished scientists to join the Editorial Board;
  • Suggesting topics for Special Issues;
  • Providing support and guidance to Section Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board Members and Editorial Staff where required;
  • Maintaining oversight of the editorial process for individual manuscripts (mainly by making the final decision regarding whether or not a paper can be published after peer-review and revisions);
  • Understanding, leading and upholding MDPI’s peer review guidelines and ethics guidelines;
  • Chairing the annual Editorial Board Meeting.

Editorial Board Member Role and Responsibilities

The Editorial Board Members will be responsible for final decisions on manuscripts in their field of expertise, will edit Special Issues and they may be invited to review manuscripts. The initial term is for 2 years, which entails:

  • Pre-screen and take decisions on new submissions related to their research interests;
  • Set up at least 1 Special Issue during their term on a topic related to their research interests (or supervising Special Issues related to their research field);
  • Help to attract suitable expert authors and invite young scholars to join the Early Career Editorial Board;
  • Provide input or feedback regarding journal policies;
  • Help to promote the journal among their peers or at conferences;
  • Attend Board Meetings to suggest journal development strategies;
  • Review manuscripts or help to identify suitable reviewers for the journal.

Supporting Editor Responsibilities

Guest Editor Role and Responsibilities

Guest Editors play a crucial role in curating and editing Special Issues, enabling collaboration with scholars globally. They are responsible for overseeing the peer-review process for submissions to their Special Issue and ensuring the overall quality of the content.

Responsibilities:

  • Special Issue Planning: Prepare the title, aim & scope, summary, and keywords for the Special Issue, ensuring alignment with the journal's overall focus and academic standards.
  • Contributor Selection: Compile a list of potential contributors, inviting esteemed scholars from the relevant research field to submit their work for inclusion in the Special Issue.
  • Peer-Review Management: Pre-screen submissions, supervise the peer-review process, and make final decisions on the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts in the Special Issue.
  • Promotion: Promote the Special Issue at academic conferences, on social media platforms, and through other relevant channels to maximize visibility and engagement.

Guest Editors play an instrumental role in shaping the direction and impact of Special Issues, fostering academic exchange and advancing research in their respective fields.

Topic Editor Role and Responsibilities

Topic Editors are pivotal in curating and managing Topics, providing an opportunity for cross-disciplinary collaboration on a global scale. They are responsible for overseeing the peer-review process for submissions within their Topic and ensuring the quality and relevance of the content.

Responsibilities:

  • Topic Planning: Prepare the title, aim & scope, summary, and keywords for the Topic, ensuring coherence with the journal's broader objectives and academic standards.
  • Contributor Selection: Compile and invite a list of potential contributors, engaging experts and scholars from the relevant research area to submit manuscripts for the Topic.
  • Peer-Review Management: Pre-screen, manage, and supervise the peer-review process for all submissions to the Topic, making final decisions on acceptance or rejection based on review feedback.
  • Promotion: Promote the Topic at academic conferences, through social media, and on other relevant platforms to raise awareness and encourage contributions from the scholarly community.

Topic Editors play a key role in shaping the scope and impact of the journal’s Topics, facilitating interdisciplinary dialogue and advancing research across various fields.