Why student reviewers? The future of our field depends on it.

It’s no secret that a big chunk of almost every kind of science is actually done by people early in their careers - graduate students and postdocs. This certainly is true for the field of molecular simulation. So when you have a journal dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of practice, it only makes sense that articles be comprehensible … to the practitioners. LiveCoMS papers won’t be of much value if they can’t be understood by students and postdocs!

When the editorial board discussed having student reviewers, there was immediate agreement. We realized this would be a key strength of the journal. Student reviews would be required. Clarity is one of the foundations of the LiveCoMS mission.

We also think that participating early-career reviewers will learn a little bit about the process of science. They will get a behind-the-scenes look at refereeing and face the challenge of speaking up, but doing so constructively and collegially. Refereeing is also a chance to think more deeply about the craft of science writing.

Interested? Please join us in our non-profit effort to improve science in our field! Postdocs and graduate students should email the managing editors with a CV and brief description of expertise.

We’re excited to work with you to make our field as good as it can be. –Michael, David, Dan, Managing Editors