I'm a volunteer peer reviewer.  How often will I be asked to peer review?

This is highly dependent on the volume of papers received by the journal and the size of the journal's peer reviewer pool and editorial board.  

If you're concerned that you haven't been asked to review for an extended period login to My LA to ensure that your email address is up to date.  

I'm an editorial board member.  How often will I be asked to peer review?

This is also dependent on the volume of papers received by the journal and the size of the journal's peer reviewer pool and editorial board.

If you're an original editorial board member of Cancer Informatics or Evolutionary Bioinformatics who joined in 2005, you may have been recruited as an 'honorary' member, meaning that we do not have your consent to send you peer review invitations.  If you wish to be a peer reviewer please contact us.  

For all later journals editorial board members were recruited on the basis that you would occasionally be send peer review invitations unless you opt-out later.  If you're an editorial board member of a later journal and haven't received a peer review invitation for an extended period please login to My LA to update your email address.

How do I undertake a peer review?

Visit the Guidance for Peer Reviewer pages to read more on this.

How do I know if I'm in a conflict of interest?

Libertas has rigorous conflict of interest rules which may be different to other journals you review for.  Visit the Conflicts of Interest and Disqualifications page to read more.

Can I edit or comment in the manuscript directly?

No.  You must provide a separate peer review report.  Edited or commented manuscripts will not be passed on to authors.

Should I list all grammar/style errors?

No.  If grammar or style errors exist state that they are present in your peer review report without individually itemizing them.

Who will see my peer review report?

Libertas scans all peer review reports to ensure they contain no information which may allow the author to identify the peer reviewer.  We do not edit peer review reports and if such information is found the Editor in Chief or Associate Editor will be informed and the report will not be used.

Your report will be sent to the authors via email after an editorial decision is made by the Editor in Chief or Associate Editor.  Neither Libertas nor the Editor in Chief or Associate Editor can edit your report.  Your identity will not be disclosed to the authors.

Who makes editorial decisions?

This is strictly the responsibility of the Editor in Chief or Associate Editor.  Libertas will not make editorial decisions on their behalf, and if the Editor in Chief or Associate Editor are not available another editorial board member or the Editor in Chief of a similar journal will be asked to make a decision.

How did you identify me as a reviewer?

Potential reviewers are generally drawn from the editorial board or volunteer peer reviewer pool for the journal, by order of preference.  Occasionally potential reviewers may also be identified by a Pubmed search.  On no circumstances do we accept recommendations of reviewers from authors of a submission.

Will I be asked to review the paper a second time?

You may.  This varies by journal based on the preferences of the Editor in Chief or Associate Editor in charge.

Will I be informed when the paper is accepted or published?

You will be informed when the paper is published but we generally do not inform reviewers when papers are accepted for publication.  Our research on peer reviewers' preferences has shown that most reviewers prefer to receive the former but not the latter.