For Reviewers

About and Eligibility:

MURAJ is seeking motivated UMN undergraduate students to join our reviewer team for the 2023-2024 academic year. As peer reviewers, students would be reviewing original undergraduate research from their fields in a double-blind, multi-step process. With support from the University Libraries, students have the opportunity to interact directly with a professional journal interface, receive training on how to provide constructive reviews, and engage with the broader UMN research community. We are looking for reviewers in all disciplines:

  • Biological, Animal, & Health Sciences (Biology, Public Health, Neuroscience, Animal Science, Wildlife Studies, etc.)
  • Engineering & Physical Science (Physics, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, etc.)
  • Mathematics & Computer Science (Statistics, Math, Computer Science, etc.)
  • Social Sciences, Education, & Communication (Psychology, Journalism, Linguistics, etc.)
  • Literature & History (English, Foreign Language, History, etc.)
  • Fine Arts (Music, Theater, Dance, etc.)
  • Business, Law & Politics (Political Science, Economics, Management, etc.)
  • Architecture & Design (Landscape Architecture, Graphic Design, Apparel, etc.)
  • Environmental, Conservation, & Plant Science (Agricultural Education, Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation, Food Science, etc.)
  • Diversified Studies (Inter-disciplinary work)

Apply:

Reviewer applications are now open for the 2023-2024 publication cycle. Please apply at: https://z.umn.edu/MURAJReviewerApp2023

Training:

Never reviewed a manuscript before? No problem! We will provide comprehensive training through a compilation of modules via Canvas assembled by our Reviewer Training team!

Timeline and Time Commitment:

Reviewers are expected to commit approximately 15 hours of work per semester, including attendance at hour-long biweekly meetings; reviewing commitments are anticipated to be at their highest around January.

October 22nd: Reviewer Applications close

October 30th: Reviewers are notified of their selection status

December 8th, 2023: Reviewer Training through Canvas course is due

FAQ:

What does reviewer training consist of? 

Reviewer training consists of several topics distributed asynchronously on a Canvas course. After going through the modules and completing a few short assignments, reviewers will have an understanding of:

  • A history and explanation of academic journals
  • The background of MURAJ
  • A timeline of the MURAJ review process
  • Types of reviewing and ethical questions
  • The review guidelines and materials (in reviewer resources)
  • How to review (e.g., deidentification, reviewer letters)
  • How to use OJS
  • MURAJ: In Focus
  • MURAJ: In Action
  • How to edit (grammar, citations, editing)

Training should take no more than 3-4 hours to complete and should be completed by a predetermined due date each publishing year.

ALL REVIEWING IN THE SPRING IS CONTINGENT UPON THE COMPLETION OF TRAINING

How many papers will I get to review if I become a reviewer? 

Our Editorial Team attempts to provide each reviewer with two manuscripts to review within their academic field.

What will I get out of being a reviewer? 

Being a reviewer allows you to take a deep dive into someone else’s research. This provides you the opportunity to learn, provide professional criticism, and improve the authors' manuscript. As an undergraduate student, this experience is valuable in understanding and interacting with the publishing process. 

Can I be a reviewer and an author?

Yes! Since we use a double-blind process, you can submit an article while acting as a reviewer.