Editorial Board Member Policy

1. Appointment & Tenure

Selection Criteria

Editorial board members are selected based on their expertise in engineering disciplines, publication record, and commitment to advancing engineering research.

Eligibility Criteria

• PhD or equivalent terminal degree in engineering or related field
• Minimum 10 peer-reviewed publications in engineering journals
• Established research profile in engineering/technology sciences
• Previous editorial/reviewing experience
• Active in academic/engineering research community
• No history of research misconduct

Appointment Process

• Invitation from Editor-in-Chief
• Review of CV and publication record in engineering
• Reference checks (if required)
• Formal appointment letter
• Initial 2-year term (renewable)
• Annual performance review

Term Duration

Editorial board members are appointed for an initial term of 2 years, renewable for additional terms based on performance and mutual agreement. The maximum continuous service is 6 years, after which a minimum 1-year break is required before reappointment.

2. Roles & Responsibilities

Core Responsibilities

Editorial Duties

• Review 10-15 manuscripts annually
• Provide timely, constructive reviews of engineering research
• Make objective publication recommendations
• Suggest potential reviewers when needed
• Handle special issue proposals
• Contribute to journal development

Academic Contributions

• Submit own engineering research to journal (optional)
• Promote journal in academic and engineering networks
• Identify emerging engineering research trends
• Suggest special issue topics
• Recommend qualified reviewers
• Participate in editorial meetings

Note: Editorial board members are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and confidentiality throughout their tenure.

3. Expectations & Commitment

Time Commitment

• Review Completion: Within 2 weeks of assignment
• Annual Reviews: Minimum 10 manuscripts per year
• Meeting Participation: Virtual meetings as scheduled
• Response Time: 48 hours for review invitations
• Availability: Regular email communication
• Term: Minimum 2-year commitment

Professional Expectations

• Maintain high ethical standards in engineering research
• Provide constructive, unbiased feedback
• Respect author confidentiality
• Stay current in field of engineering expertise
• Declare conflicts of interest
• Uphold journal's reputation

4. Manuscript Reviewing Guidelines

Review Standards

Timeliness

• Accept/decline within 48 hours
• Complete review within 14 days
• Notify if extension needed
• Prioritize urgent reviews

Quality

• Comprehensive evaluation of engineering content
• Constructive feedback
• Evidence-based comments
• Clear recommendations

Confidentiality

• No sharing of manuscripts
• No use of unpublished data
• Secure file handling
• Anonymity protection

Review Excellence

Editorial board members are expected to provide model reviews that demonstrate thoroughness, fairness, and constructive criticism. Reviews should help authors improve their engineering research while maintaining scientific rigor.

5. Ethical Standards

COPE Compliance

All editorial board members must adhere to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines and ICMJE recommendations.

Prohibited Practices

• Plagiarism or self-plagiarism
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Ghost or gift authorship
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest
• Breach of confidentiality
• Unfair or biased reviewing

Required Standards

• Transparency in decision-making
• Fair treatment of all authors
• Respect for intellectual property
• Timely conflict declaration
• Professional conduct
• Continuous improvement

6. Conflict of Interest Policy

Conflict Declaration

Editorial board members must declare any conflicts of interest that could affect their impartiality in manuscript evaluation.

Types of Conflicts

• Financial relationships with industry
• Personal relationships with authors
• Professional relationships and collaborations
• Institutional affiliations
• Intellectual property issues (patents)
• Competing research interests

Declaration Process

• Declare upon appointment
• Update annually or when changes occur
• Declare for each manuscript review
• Withdraw from conflicted reviews
• Document all declarations
• Report potential conflicts

Important: Failure to declare conflicts of interest may result in immediate termination from the editorial board and could lead to further disciplinary action.

7. Performance & Evaluation

Evaluation Criteria

• Review Quality: Thoroughness and constructiveness
• Timeliness: Meeting review deadlines
• Quantity: Minimum 10 reviews annually
• Engagement: Participation in board activities
• Ethics: Adherence to ethical guidelines
• Contribution: Journal development input

Evaluation Process

• Annual performance review
• Review quality assessment
• Timeliness metrics evaluation
• Editor-in-Chief feedback
• Self-assessment opportunity
• Development plan creation

Recognition & Benefits

Editorial board members receive certificates of appointment, listing on journal website, recognition in published issues, and opportunities for professional development. Exceptional performance may lead to increased responsibilities or promotion to senior editorial positions.

8. Resignation & Termination

Board Membership Conclusion

Voluntary Resignation

• Submit written notice to Editor-in-Chief
• Minimum 30-day notice period
• Complete pending reviews before departure
• Return any confidential materials
• Exit interview optional
• Certificate of service provided

Termination Grounds

• Breach of ethical standards
• Consistent poor performance
• Failure to meet responsibilities
• Conflict of interest violations
• Research misconduct
• Unprofessional conduct

Transition Protocol

Upon resignation or termination, the board member's name will be removed from the journal website within 7 days. All confidential information must be returned or destroyed. The departing member may be invited to serve as an ad-hoc reviewer in the future, subject to mutual agreement.