National Postdoctoral Association

RCR TOOLKIT
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Peer review is the process through which the relative merits of scientific research are determined. It includes the definition and process of peer review, the variety of activities that utilize peer review from publication to proposal submissions, the role and responsibilities of reviewers, and understanding impartiality and confidentiality. Postdocs will have begun to be invited to review papers for journals and sit on review panels so learning about this process will be a very pertinent skill for them. Furthermore, this burgeoning experience on the part of the postdoc makes it attractive for busy PIs to pass on their own review responsibilities to their postdocs, making guidance in the ethics of peer review also important.

Case Studies and Teaching Materials

Chapter 4 of the textbook Scientific Integrity deals with Authorship and Peer Review:
Macrina, F.L. (2005) Scientific Integrity: Text and Cases in Responsible Conduct of Research (Third Edition). American Society for Microbiology Press, Washington, D.C.

“Peer-Review Techniques for Novices” by Lesley McKarney
Science Careers article with guidance directly for the early-career scientist on how to approach peer review

“Reviewers Can Help Get Your Paper Published” by David Grimm
Science Careers article examining findings that suggesting your own peer reviewers may bias acceptance of your paper or proposal

“Academic Scientists at Work: I Can't Believe They Didn't Like It!” by Jeremy M. Boss and Susan H. Eckert
Science Careers article explaining the peer review process and how scientists can use it to improve their papers and proposals

Additional case studies on Responsible Authorship, including peer review, from the Online Ethics Center at the National Academies of Engineering
http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/TeachingTools/20357/19237/auth.aspx

An Overview of the Peer Review Process at NIH from the NIH Center for Scientific Review
http://www.csr.nih.gov/review/policy.asp

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