Why become a Guest Editor?

• What is the role of a Guest Editor at IOP Publishing?
• Our terms of engagement
• FAQs

By taking the lead on an IOP Publishing Focus Collection, you have a unique opportunity to shape the conversation in your area of research. It provides you with a chance to elevate your professional profile, expand your network and contribute meaningfully to the academic community.

As a Guest Editor, you will…

Influence research direction and promote emerging areas in your field

You will curate high-quality, relevant research that addresses key topics in your area. This is your chance to shape the conversation within your community.

Enhance your visibility

Editing an IOP Publishing Focus Collection positions you as a leader in your field. It associates your name with a specific research theme and enhances the visibility of your own work, helping you reach a wider audience.

Gain hands-on experience in academic publishing

You will collaborate with experienced editorial teams and gain valuable insight into the publishing process — from peer review to final publication. As we handle the full peer review process, the experience is both manageable and rewarding. Additionally, we often consider past Guest Editors for positions available on our Editorial Boards.

Expand your global network

Connect with a diverse, international community of researchers. As a Guest Editor, you will build meaningful relationships that can lead to future collaborations and new research opportunities.

Additionally, Guest Editors are recognised on the focus collection webpage and upon completion of a successful focus collection, guest editors are given a certificate.

How do we choose Guest Editors?

We select Guest Editors based on their positions as leaders and/or up-and-coming researchers in a field, and demonstration of upholding research integrity standards in their research activities. Additionally, we often ask the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial board for their recommendations.

If you’re considering proposing a Focus Collection, we recommend reaching out to the relevant journal’s editorial team via the journals email inbox to discuss your idea further.

What is the role of a Guest Editor on an IOP Publishing Collection?

Launching a Focus Collection

Focus Collections typically involve 2—6 Guest Editors, although this may vary depending on the scope. Guest Editors are appointed, subject to passing internal checks, by the journal Publisher and Editorial board; with the lead Guest Editor usually consulted for their suggestions.

We will support you to ensure diversity in geography and gender to reflect the global research community, and on advising authors on aligning with our ethical policies. Editorial Board members may also serve as Guest Editors.

All named Guest Editors are expected to actively contribute to the development of the Focus Collection.

We expect all Guest Editors to confirm that they comply with our data protection policy, only use data provided for necessary purposes and will store data securely. Guest Editors must also provide a Conflict-of-Interest Statement.

Setting up the Focus Collection

As we handle the full peer-review process, we do not demand as much of a time commitment as other publishers, but Guest Editors will be responsible for:

• Defining the title and scope of the Focus Collection
• Setting a submission deadline in agreement with the Publisher
• Compiling a list of potential contributors to invite to submit to the collection.

They may also provide a high-quality image for the collection’s webpage (ensuring all necessary permissions are obtained).

All Focus Collection proposals are reviewed by the Publisher and, occasionally, the Editor-in-Chief. Once the scope is approved, a dedicated webpage will be created on the journal website, and the Focus Collection will open for submissions via our submission platform.

Inviting authors

As Guest Editor, you will identify and invite authors working in the relevant field. Please provide us with their full name, email address and institution for suitability review and discussion. This information will be stored in accordance with our data protection policies. Guest Editors must keep us informed about who they are inviting and share any responses received from authors.

We encourage Guest Editors to:

• Ensure that the list of invited authors reflects geographical diversity and gender balance wherever possible.
• Send the initial invitations to authors. We will follow up with reminders to those who have not responded. Authors are usually given approximately 6 months from the date of invitation to submit their article, with extensions available upon request.
• Help publicize the collection more broadly and encourage open call contributions from relevant research communities (note that occasionally, Focus Collections will be by invitation only. This will be clearly defined in the scope). Guest Editors are welcome to promote the Focus Collection on their social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Bluesky, WeChat or on networking sites such as ResearchGate.

Guest Editors are welcome to contribute to the collection, subject to conditions and limitations. The Publisher will support and advise.

Peer review

All submissions to Focus Collections undergo the same rigorous peer review process as those in our regular issues. This process is overseen and administered by our in-house journal editorial team to ensure the highest standards of quality and integrity. The journal reserves the right to reject submissions, including invited submissions, that do not comply with the journal’s policies and IOP Publishing ethical policies.

Guest Editors may be approached for advice in certain cases, such as:

• Conflicting information in reports from two reviewers
• Unclear match to the scope of the collection, requiring a preliminary report.
• Difficulty securing two independent referee reports.

You can also read our detailed reviewer guidelines.

Closing the Focus Collection

Articles are published online upon acceptance and added to the collection webpage.

The Focus Collection will be closed after the deadline, provided we are not waiting for more expected submissions. If necessary, the deadline may be extended in consultation with the Publisher. Please note that we reserve the right to close the collection to new submissions before the stated deadline. In such cases, we will notify you in writing.

Once the Focus Collection is ready to be closed, Guest Editors may be invited to write a short Editorial article summarizing the contributions to the collection.

FAQs for Guest Editors

Are Guest Editors expected to conduct peer review?
Guest Editors do not have any primary reviewing responsibilities. When contributions are submitted and reviewed, Guest Editors may be approached for advice in certain cases, such as:

• Conflicting information in reports from two reviewers
• Provide a preliminary report detailing whether a contribution fits the scope of the Collection
• Difficulty securing two independent referee reports.

Can Guest Editors co-author contributions to Focus Collections?
Yes, Guest Editors are both welcome and encouraged to contribute to Focus Collections. However, to maintain ethical standards, we would advise that no more than 20% of the overall number of published articles in the Focus Collection can be authored by any of the Guest Editors. This is to avoid cases where the majority of a Focus Collection is made up of publications from the Guest Editor.

Read our terms of engagement.