1. What is the new IOP Publishing (IOP) referee reward scheme?
The referee reward scheme gives referees who review articles for selected journals from IOP’s portfolio a 10% credit that can be used towards the cost of publishing an article they have contributed to, on a gold open access basis. A referee reward credit will be given for every review completed.
2. Why is IOP introducing this scheme?
IOP is introducing this scheme as one way to help recognise the contribution of referees towards the peer-review process. IOP is also committed to finding practical solutions that will support our referees who are also authors and who wish to publish on an open access basis.
3. How do I use my referee reward?
From 1 January 2014, referees will be able to claim a referee reward every time they review an article for the journals participating in the scheme. To use the reward, the following procedure should be followed:
- Select the open access option when submitting an article through ScholarOne.
- A box will appear that asks if you have recently reviewed an article for IOP. You will be asked for details of the article(s) you have reviewed.
- We will apply any reward to the invoice for your article publication charge.
4.Can I use more than one reward per article?
Only one reward can be applied per article.
5. Is there a time limit on using my referee reward?
You can use your referee reward for up to 12 months from the date your referee report was acknowledged.
6. I referee for one journal but want to submit to another. Can I transfer my credit?
The reward only applies to gold open access articles submitted to the journal you refereed for.
7. Which journals offer referee rewards?
- 2D Materials
- Biofabrication
- Bioinspiration & Biomimetics
- Biomedical Materials
- Classical and Quantum Gravity
- Environmental Research letters
- Inverse Problems
- Journal of Breath Research
- Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering
- Journal of Neural Engineering
- Journal of Optics
- Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical
- Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
- Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
- Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
- Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
- Journal of Radiological Protection
- Materials Research Express
- Measurement Science and Technology
- Methods and Applications in Fluorescence
- Metrologia
- Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Nonlinearity
- New Journal of Physics
- Nuclear Fusion
- Physica Scripta
- Physical Biology
- Physics Education
- Physics in Medicine and Biology
- Physiological Measurement
- Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
- Plasma Sources Science and Technology
- Semiconductor Science and Technology
- Smart Materials and Structures
- Superconductor Science and Technology
- Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties
- Translational Materials Research
8. Can I transfer my referee reward to a colleague?
Your referee credit can only be used for articles on which you are named as an author. You do not have to be the named corresponding author.
9. Is there a cash equivalent?
No cash equivalent is available.
10. Can I use my reward retrospectively to make a previous article open access?
Your referee reward can only be used on new submissions.
11. Can I use my referee reward to pay for colour figures in print or offprints etc?
The reward can only be used to pay the gold open access article publication charge for an article.
12. Are there any exclusions or restrictions on using the referee reward?
Some IOP journals operate slightly different referee reward schemes for historical reasons. If you are unsure, please check on the open access information page for the journal you review for, or ask the publisher of the journal. The referee reward cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts such as institutional membership schemes. You can only use one referee reward per article and you can only use the reward for submitting to the journal you reviewed for.
13. Any other questions?
Please e-mail custserv@iop.org.