These ten simple steps will help you build confidence, get noticed by journal editors, and prepare to contribute meaningfully to the peer review process.
Update your public profile
Editors often search online for potential reviewers, so keep your professional profile current. Clearly outline your research interests, areas of expertise, and recent published work.
List your latest publications (and relevant preprints), use specific subject and methodological keywords, and ensure links to your ORCID iD, Google Scholar profile, or institutional profile are up to date.
A clear, well-maintained profile makes it easier for editors to identify and invite you to review relevant manuscripts.
Understand what editors look for in a good review
Read journal reviewer guidelines carefully before accepting invitations.
A strong review is constructive, specific, and focused on improving the work — not just judging it.
Pay attention to how editors frame decision letters and what kinds of feedback are most helpful to authors.
Read widely and critically
Stay up to date with the published literature in your field (via journal eTOC alerts or RSS feeds, among others).
When you read an article, think about how you would evaluate it if you were reviewing it for a journal.
Also read articles that are published with the reviewer comments online.
Keep publishing
Editors often select reviewers by looking at the references in published articles. By continuing to conduct your research and report the results, you’ll help editors find you, and match you to the kinds of studies you want to read.
Let your supervisor know you are interested in peer review.
Ask to co-review a manuscript with them.
Use the confidential comments section of the review form to indicate your involvement.
Some journals also offer mentoring programs for early-career reviewers.
Attend conferences
Give presentations or participate on panels at conferences to start getting known among others in your field.
Network with journal editors attending the conferences.
Engage on social media
Follow and connect with researchers and editors on platforms like BlueSky, LinkedIn, ResearchGate, or others relevant to your field. Sharing insights and participating in discussions can help you get noticed.
Join or start a journal club
Find or form a group at your university or institution to get practice evaluating research with your peers.
Practice writing about research
Get involved in open peer review, join preprint discussions on bioRxiv or PREreview, or add post-publication article comments on journal websites.
