Editors of the SCICONX Journal of Advanced Materials & Engineering (JAME) play a crucial role in ensuring the journal’s scientific rigor, ethical integrity, and editorial excellence. This page provides a comprehensive guide outlining the responsibilities, workflow, and best practices expected from all members of the editorial board.

1. Editorial Mission:

JAME aims to publish high-quality, original research that advances the fields of materials science and engineering. Editors are entrusted with upholding the journal’s vision by:

• Ensuring fairness and transparency in decision-making
• Maintaining ethical standards in every stage of manuscript handling
• Promoting high-impact research and supporting emerging scientific fields
• Encouraging diversity, inclusivity, and global representation among authors and reviewers

2. Roles & Responsibilities of Editors:

2.1 Editorial Board Members (EBMs)

EBMs support the journal’s growth by:

• Advising on journal policies, scope, and strategic direction
• Suggesting potential special issues and thematic collections
• Recommending qualified reviewers and guest editors
• Promoting the journal within their scientific communities

2.2 Associate Editors (AEs)

AEs manage the technical and scientific evaluation of manuscripts:

• Conducting initial screening for relevance, quality, and originality
• Assigning peer reviewers based on expertise
• Making recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief (EiC) based on reviewer feedback
• Ensuring timely processing of manuscripts

2.3 Editor-in-Chief (EiC)

The EiC oversees the entire editorial process:

• Making final decisions on manuscripts
• Ensuring reviewer and editor accountability
• Enforcing ethical standards
• Leading strategic development of the journal

3. Editorial Workflow:

Editors are required to follow a standardized workflow to ensure consistency and efficiency.

3.1 Initial Screening

Upon receiving a manuscript, the editor must assess:

• Relevance to the journal’s aims & scope
• Scientific merit and originality
• Quality of methodology and clarity of writing
• Ethical compliance (IRB approvals, conflicts of interest, etc.)
• Plagiarism level through screening tools

At this stage, editors may:
✔ Send for peer review
✔ Request revision before review
✔ Reject with explanation

3.2 Reviewer Selection

Editors should select 2–4 expert reviewers based on:

• Subject expertise
• Academic credibility
• Prior review performance
• Absence of conflicts of interest

Editors must avoid:
✘ Authors as reviewers
✘ Reviewers from the same institution as the authors
✘ Reviewers with recent collaborations

3.3 Peer-Review Monitoring

Editors must:

• Monitor reviewer deadlines
• Send gentle reminders when needed
• Ensure reviews are constructive, professional, and unbiased
• Evaluate the quality of reports before making a decision

3.4 Editorial Decision

After receiving all reviews, editors should make one of the following recommendations:

• Accept
• Minor Revision
• Major Revision
• Reject

The decision must be based on scientific merit - not personal bias or institutional affiliation.

3.5 Revision Handling

For revised submissions, editors should check:

• Completeness of authors’ response to reviewers
• Appropriateness of changes made
• Whether further review is necessary

3.6 Final Decision

Editors submit their recommendation to the EiC, who then makes the final publication decision. This ensures fairness and high editorial standards.

4. Ethical Responsibilities:

Editors must uphold the ethical integrity of the journal at all times.

4.1 Confidentiality

Editors must not:

• Share manuscript content with unauthorized persons
• Use unpublished data for personal research
• Discuss manuscripts outside the review process

4.2 Conflict of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts if they:

• Are from the same institution as the authors
• Have collaborated with the authors in the last 3 years
• Have competing financial, personal, or professional interests

4.3 Handling Misconduct

If editors identify issues such as:

• Plagiarism
• Data fabrication or manipulation
• Ethical non-compliance
• Authorship disputes

They must notify the EiC immediately and initiate appropriate action according to SCICONX Publishing guidelines.

5. Quality Standards:

Editors are responsible for ensuring that all published manuscripts:

• Meet the journal’s scientific rigor
• Offer novelty or significant advancement to the field
• Are clearly written and logically structured
• Contain accurate methodology and reproducible results

6. Communication Guidelines:

Editors should maintain professional, courteous communication with authors and reviewers.

Editors should:

• Provide clear guidance and constructive feedback
• Respond to queries promptly
• Treat all parties with respect

Editors should avoid:

• Harsh or dismissive language
• Delays in handling manuscripts
• Influencing reviews with personal opinions

7. Timeline & Efficiency Expectations:

Editors should process manuscripts within designated timelines:

• Initial decision: 7–10 days
• Review completion: 2–3 weeks
• Revision handling: 5–7 days

Consistency in timeline adherence strengthens the journal’s reputation.

8. Special Issues & Guest Editors:

Editors may propose special issues on emerging research themes. Guest Editors should be:

• Established experts in the field
• Free from conflicts of interest
• Committed to ensuring quality and timely processing

All special issue manuscripts must undergo the standard peer-review process.

9. Data & Research Transparency:

Editors must encourage authors to:

• Include data availability statements
• Share datasets when possible
• Maintain reproducibility of results
• Follow community standards for reporting

10. Editorial Accountability:

All editors should:

• Update their profiles periodically
• Participate in reviewer recruitment
• Help promote the journal at conferences and academic platforms
• Contribute to annual board meetings and strategy discussions

11. Removal or Replacement of Editors:

SCICONX Publishing reserves the right to remove editors who:

• Consistently miss deadlines
• Show bias or ethical misconduct
• Fail to meet quality or participation expectations

12. Support for Editors:

JAME ensures:

• Dedicated editorial support
• Access to reviewer databases
• Training resources for new editors
• Clear communication channels with the EiC and publisher

13. Contact Information for Editorial Queries:

For internal communication or assistance: editor.jame@sciconxjournals.com

Editors form the backbone of the SCICONX Journal of Advanced Materials & Engineering. Their dedication ensures that the journal remains a trusted, high-quality platform for publishing cutting-edge research. By adhering to these guidelines, editors contribute to the integrity, impact, and global reputation of JAME under SCICONX Publishing.