Want to Become a Peer Reviewer? Start Here

Peer review is central to scholarly publishing. Peer reviewers play a critical role in helping editors evaluate the validity, originality, and clarity of submitted manuscripts before publication. Reviewing also offers several benefits: it strengthens critical reading skills, helps you stay current with new developments in your field, and broadens your perspective about editorial decision making. If you’re an early-career researcher interested in becoming a peer reviewer, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started, build credibility, and make a meaningful contribution to the scholarly publishing community. 

1. Build your subject-area expertise and a publication record

Editors are always in need of specialists who can evaluate technical accuracy and relevance. They typically invite reviewers who have demonstrated expertise in their field. Before you start seeking reviewer roles, ensure you have a few peer-reviewed publications of your own. These will indicate your familiarity with how research is structured, written, and presented for publication.  

2. Familiarize yourself with the current discussions in your field

As a peer reviewer, you need to be able to assess whether and how a manuscript fits within existing research. Keep up with the latest research, conferences, and discussions in your field. This will help you assess the novelty and significance of the research you are reviewing. 

3. Learn how peer review works

Before you volunteer to review, understand how the peer-review process operates. This includes learning more about the types of peer review, editorial workflows, expectations from peer reviewers, responsibilities of reviewers, and ethical considerations in peer review.  

4. Get reviewer training or certification

Many journals, publishers, and platforms provide reviewer training courses, such as those from Wiley, Elsevier, Springer Nature, Publons Academy, and ReviewerOne. Taking such courses can strengthen your understanding of the peer review system. Peer reviewer training courses often cover essential information as well as practical scenario-based learning. 

5. Connect with editors and journals

Most reviewers start by being invited, but you can actively build visibility. Add your reviewing interests and areas of expertise to your online profiles (LinkedIn, ResearchGate, ORCID, Google Scholar, etc.). Reach out to journal editors; a short email introducing your background and key publications would help. Attend conferences to meet and interact with editors or editorial board members. Many editors remember researchers who ask thoughtful questions or present strong work in their sessions. 

6. Co-review with a mentor

If you are new to reviewing, consider co-reviewing a manuscript with a senior researcher or supervisor who already serves as a reviewer. This will help you jointly evaluate the manuscript under their supervision. Ensure that your participation as a co-reviewer is mentioned transparently, so that you get credit for the review, too. 

7. Review responsibly

When you receive your first review invitation, assess whether the paper fits your expertise and whether you can meet the deadline. Decline promptly if you are not confident about either. Disclose conflicts of interest, if any. Once you accept, read the manuscript carefully and structure your review clearly with an overview, comments, and notes to the editor, if needed. Be constructive and provide actionable suggestions to the author(s). Be professional and proactive in your communication with the journal editor. 

8. Keep track of your peer review activity

Maintaining a record of your peer review activity can help you highlight your contributions in performance reviews or tenure applications. Some services enable automatic verification of peer reviews and allow you to link verified reviews to your research profile. Many publishers also issue certificates of appreciation for completed reviews. 

9. Keep learning and evolving

As innovative technologies, ethical challenges, and AI-assisted tools emerge, you need to adapt as a reviewer. Stay informed about best practices through webinars, editorials, and community conversations. As you gain experience, you may be invited to serve as a guest editor, join an editorial board, or train others in peer review. Each of these opportunities builds your professional visibility and broadens your understanding of how research is evaluated. 

Becoming a peer reviewer is not just about making a name for yourself. It is about contributing meaningfully to the integrity and quality of scholarly communication. Begin with understanding how peer review works. Approach each review as a responsibility as well as an opportunity to learn.