New Matter Podcast

Current Episode

In this episode, we celebrate Peer Review Week 2026 with guests SLAS Discovery Editor-in-Chief Bob Campbell, PhD, and SLAS Technology Editor-in-Chief Ed Chow, PhD, to discuss the growing pressures on peer review—rising submission volumes (especially in AI and bioinformatics), fewer available reviewers post-COVID, and the challenge of finding crossover expertise. They advocate for formalized mentorship of early-career researchers, emphasize that good reviews offer constructive paths to publication rather than outright rejection, and encourage reviewers to accept or decline quickly and prioritize revision rounds.

Key Learning Points

• Capacity is squeezed – Submission volume is up (especially in silico/AI papers), while reviewers are more selective and reviewing less than pre-COVID.
• Mentorship matters – Pairwise mentor programs (PI + grad student/fellow) formalize peer review training and build the next generation of reviewers.
• Good reviews improve papers – The best reports give concrete, actionable suggestions and ask whether results justify conclusions—not just reject.
• Know your expertise – Reviewers should ask editors if unsure about fit; editors can pair a statistician with a biologist, for example.
• Timeliness is critical – Accept or decline quickly; revision reviews should be fast since they only assess whether authors addressed prior comments.