PeerJ

Scope & Guideline

Catalyzing discoveries in Medicine and Neuroscience.

Introduction

Explore the comprehensive scope of PeerJ through our detailed guidelines, including its aims and scope. Stay updated with trending and emerging topics, and delve into declining areas to understand shifts in academic interest. Our guidelines also showcase highly cited topics, featuring influential research making a significant impact. Additionally, discover the latest published papers and those with high citation counts, offering a snapshot of current scholarly conversations. Use these guidelines to explore PeerJ in depth and align your research initiatives with current academic trends.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN2167-8359
PublisherPEERJ INC
Support Open AccessYes
CountryUnited States
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2013 to 2024
AbbreviationPEERJ / PeerJ
Frequency1 issue/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address341-345 OLD ST, THIRD FLR, LONDON EC1V 9LL, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

PeerJ is a multidisciplinary journal that emphasizes the publication of high-quality research across various fields, including biology, medicine, and environmental sciences. The journal aims to foster open access to scientific knowledge while maintaining rigorous peer review standards. The following points highlight the core areas and methodologies that define the journal's scope:
  1. Multidisciplinary Research:
    PeerJ publishes research across various disciplines, including biology, medicine, and environmental sciences, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.
  2. Open Access Publishing:
    The journal provides open access to all published articles, allowing broader dissemination of research findings and facilitating public access to scientific knowledge.
  3. Rigorous Peer Review:
    PeerJ employs a thorough peer review process to ensure the quality and integrity of the research published, enhancing the credibility of the findings.
  4. Focus on Methodological Rigor:
    The journal emphasizes the importance of robust methodologies, encouraging authors to provide detailed descriptions of experimental designs, statistical analyses, and data interpretation.
  5. Innovative Research Approaches:
    PeerJ welcomes novel research approaches and methodologies, fostering advancements in scientific inquiry and encouraging creativity in experimental design.
  6. Integration of Omics Technologies:
    The journal highlights studies that utilize omics technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics) to explore biological questions, reflecting the trend towards high-throughput data generation in research.
  7. Environmental and Ecological Studies:
    Research related to environmental science, ecology, and conservation is a significant focus, addressing pressing global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
PeerJ has seen a shift in focus towards several emerging themes that reflect current trends in scientific research. The following points outline these trending and emerging scopes within the journal:
  1. Bioinformatics and Computational Biology:
    There is a growing trend towards the publication of studies that utilize bioinformatics and computational approaches to analyze biological data, reflecting the increasing importance of data science in biological research.
  2. Microbiome Research:
    Research exploring the human and environmental microbiomes is gaining traction, highlighting the role of microbial communities in health, ecology, and disease, and their implications for public health.
  3. Environmental and Climate Change Studies:
    The journal is increasingly publishing research that addresses environmental issues and the impacts of climate change, reflecting a broader societal concern for sustainability and ecological preservation.
  4. Translational and Clinical Research:
    There is a notable increase in translational research that bridges laboratory findings with clinical applications, particularly in areas related to cancer, infectious diseases, and public health.
  5. Application of Artificial Intelligence:
    Studies integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques into biological research are on the rise, demonstrating the journal's embrace of innovative technologies for data analysis and prediction.
  6. Focus on Health and Disease Mechanisms:
    Research delving into the mechanisms of diseases, particularly those related to metabolic disorders and cancers, is becoming more prevalent, reflecting an interest in understanding underlying biological processes.
  7. Plant and Agricultural Sciences:
    Research on plant biology, particularly relating to crop improvement, stress responses, and sustainable agricultural practices, is increasingly prominent in the journal, aligning with global food security challenges.

Declining or Waning

While PeerJ continues to thrive in various research areas, certain themes have shown a decline in frequency or prominence over recent years. The following points identify these waning scopes within the journal:
  1. Traditional Laboratory Studies:
    There is a noticeable decrease in publications focused solely on traditional laboratory-based studies without integrating fieldwork or real-world applications, as the journal increasingly favors research with broader ecological or clinical relevance.
  2. Descriptive Studies without Novel Insights:
    Research articles that provide only descriptive analyses without contributing new insights or advancements in methodologies are becoming less common, as the journal emphasizes innovative and impactful research.
  3. Limited Focus on Localized Studies:
    Studies that solely focus on localized ecosystems or populations without addressing broader implications or contexts are less frequently published, indicating a shift towards more globally relevant research.
  4. Reduction in Non-Quantitative Research:
    There has been a decline in qualitative research or studies lacking quantitative measures, as the journal continues to prioritize data-driven approaches that provide measurable outcomes.

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