Finding and securing reviewers
Finding and securing reviewers
Editor Center > Initial evaluation > Finding reviewers
Master strategies for finding and securing qualified, diverse reviewers to ensure rigorous, unbiased peer review, and timely editorial decisions.
Securing qualified reviewers is essential to maintaining scientific integrity. As an Academic Editor, you facilitate the peer review process and work to ensure that each manuscript undergoes rigorous external peer review before acceptance.
A suitable reviewer provides an unbiased, qualified assessment of a manuscript’s scientific rigor.
You have an essential role in ensuring that a manuscript is reviewed fairly. Please follow our guidance on avoiding competing interests and consider our qualifications checklist to help identify suitable reviewers.
Avoiding competing interests and maintaining unbiased perspectives
When you are searching for reviewers, you must verify that they:
- Do not work at the same institution as any of the authors.
- Are not listed in the manuscript’s opposed reviewers section.
- Have not collaborated or published with any of the authors in the past five years.
- Are not located at the same institution as another reviewer.
Published at least five papers on the topic, preferably as corresponding or last author.
Expertise in the research area and, if possible, the methodology.
Holds a postdoctoral or equivalent degree.
Affiliated with an academic, government, not-for-profit, or research institution.
Reviewer qualification checklist
When inviting reviewers, strive to create a panel that covers both the subject matter and methodology reported in the submission.
We recommend using the following checklist as a reference when assessing suitability:
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Published at least five papers on the topic, preferably as corresponding or last author.
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Expertise in the research area and, if possible, the methodology.
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Holds a postdoctoral or equivalent degree.
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Affiliated with an academic, government, not-for-profit, or research institution.
Researchers you know
Those who are familiar with you and your expertise may be more likely to accept.
Researchers whose work
you know
Authors you recognize from literature, conferences, or previous research.
Broader search
Use tools like Web of Science Reviewer Locator, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Dimensions to identify authors of papers similar to the manuscript under review.
Always thoroughly screen all potential reviewers and avoid repeatedly selecting the same individuals for your assigned manuscripts.
Additional recommendations to help with your search
- Invite early career researchers. They often have more time and willingness to review than senior researchers.
- Personalize the invitation template. Make your invitation stand out and be more persuasive to help secure reviewers.
- Set up alternative reviewers. To save you from multiple visits to Editorial Manager, alternative reviewers are automatically invited when a previous reviewer declines or does not respond. You can also link reviewers with similar expertise to each other.
- We encourage co-reviewing as a great way to gain peer review experience under the mentorship of an experienced reviewer. Consider inviting a more senior researcher with encouragement to co-review.
Diversity in peer review
By proactively inviting reviewers from a wide range of backgrounds, you can help build a more inclusive and balanced peer review process.
We recommend that you consider a broad range of perspectives when inviting reviewers, including gender‑diverse researchers and those based in emerging economies. Editors and reviewers are important promoters of research communication and increasing diversity in these roles can help improve equity in research.
Consider the following when inviting reviewers, to help support and engage with diverse perspectives in your field:
- Approach researchers from diverse backgrounds.
- Invite researchers at all career stages.
- Expand reviewer pools beyond frequent invitees.
- Approach reviewers outside your own institution where possible.
- Utilize databases outside of Editorial Manager.
All reviewer interactions occur through Editorial Manager (EM). We do not recommend searching for reviewers in EM, as it is a contact database only.
For Clinical Trial manuscripts submitted to: PLOS One, PLOS Climate, PLOS Global Public Health, PLOS Mental Health, and PLOS Water, we will automatically invite a statistical reviewer on your behalf.
Managing the reviewer invitation timeline
To help you save time and avoid unnecessary delays, we recommend that you follow best practices when inviting reviewers:
If you need further help
If you are unsure what to do, email us. Your journal team is here to support you. Find out how to contact your journal office on our dedicated information page.
What is next:
Assessing reviews and making decisions
Related editorial resources
Guide to Editorial Manager
Frequently asked questions
