Announcements

Conference: European Corrosion Congress
Date: 7–11 September 2025
Location: Stavanger, Norway

MDPI will be attending the upcoming European Corrosion Congress (EuroCorr 2025) as an exhibitor. This conference will be held in Stavanger, Norway, from 7 to 11 September 2025 and is organized by the Norwegian Corrosion Society and European Federation of Corrosion.

EuroCorr 2025 aims to explore all aspects of corrosion science, technology, and engineering. The main theme of the conference is “Joining Forces for Smart and Sustainable Solutions to Fighting Corrosion in Society”.

Its scope includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Corrosion mechanism and education;
• Corrosion hazard in industrial environment;
• Materials protection and corrosion prevention.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Corrosion and Materials Degradation (CMD);
• Coatings;
• Metals;
• Surfaces;
• Microorganisms;
• Heritage;
• Materials;
• Nanomaterials;
• Buildings;
• Lubricants.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #31 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about this conference, please visit the following website: https://eurocorr2025.org/.

We are thrilled to share the updated Exceptional Reviewers List 2025. This program was designed to recognize and honor scholars who have delivered consistently exceptional review reports to our journal. Committed to fostering rigorous research and promoting knowledge exchange, Coatings (ISSN: 2079-6412) recognizes the significant role our reviewers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the articles we publish. According to surveys conducted in 2024, 92% of our authors rate the peer review as good or excellent, thanks to our pool of excellent reviewers.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the reviewers who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to assist in Coatings' peer-review process. Their dedication and attention to detail in evaluating manuscripts, offering valuable feedback, and contributing to academic rigor are truly commendable.

The Exceptional Reviewers List has been introduced in June 2025. Every month, we will be selecting a group of outstanding reviewers and introducing them here.

September 2025

See what our reviewers say about the review process of Coatings:

“The review process has been both insightful and inspiring, allowing me to stay connected with new ideas and contribute to advancing our discipline. I am deeply appreciative of the editorial team’s dedication and the opportunity to be part of this community.”—Dr. Cornelia Baera

“My review experience with Coatings has been rewarding, allowing me to engage with cutting-edge research while contributing to scientific rigor.”—Dr. Dao Nguyen Thuan

“The Coatings journal, and other journals from MDPI, offered me great resources and guidelines in my early reviewer experience. With those helpful information, my reviewing processes have been always smooth and straightforward.”—Dr. Hongxuan Chen

“It has been a pleasure to contribute to the peer-review process and to support the journal’s commitment to scientific quality.”—Dr. Luis Filipe Almeida Bernardo

“I was honored to serve as a reviewer, supporting the advancement of scientific research through thoughtful and constructive evaluations. Peer review is a crucial process that maintains the integrity, accuracy, and relevance of published work, and I take great responsibility in providing fair and detailed feedback. Each review not only assesses the quality of the research but also helps authors refine their ideas, improve clarity, and strengthen their arguments. From my experience, I have learned that effective reviewing requires a balance between critical analysis and encouragement, helping researchers at all stages to improve the impact of their work. I am motivated by the collaborative nature of the process, where reviewers, editors, and authors work together to maintain scientific standards and foster innovation. Participating as a reviewer enables me to stay current on the latest developments in my field, deepen my understanding, and contribute to shaping the direction of research. I appreciate the opportunity to be part of this global community of scientists dedicated to excellence, transparency, and continuous improvement in scholarly publishing.”—Dr. Nicoleta Nedelcu

“Peer review is an essential part of the publishing and knowledge dissemination process. Taking part in the process is essential for me to be aware of the newest advances in my field and others. It’s especially valuable to encourage open access to make science more accessible.”—Dr. Samuel McMaster

“Coatings’ review platform is objective, intuitive, and transparent; it informs editors and authors clearly and enables fast, efficient evaluations with consistently high scientific standards.”—Dr. Sinan Fidan

“Reviewing for Coatings has been a rewarding experience, allowing me to contribute to high-quality research and learn from leading work in the field.”—Dr. Worawat Wattanathana

August 2025

See what our reviewers say about the review process of Coatings:

“My experience reviewing for Coatings (MDPI) was excellent; the system is modern and accessible, voucher incentives are valuable, and the published articles fit the journal’s scope”.—Dr. Ahmad Mostafa

“My experience as reviewer for the journal Coatings has been positive. It was very stimulating to revise valuable papers in a variety of topics concerning coatings. The Editorial Office and the Assistant Editors have been helpful during the process”.—Dr. Claudia Pelosi

“The review process and experience of the Coatings journal platform is straightforward and user friendly. This platform promotes transparency while maintaining confidentiality. The review criteria are clearly defined, and the editorial communication is timely and respectful. As a reviewer, I felt a valued contributor. This platform provides high-quality, ethical, and efficient scholarly evaluation”.—Dr. Leonardo Gutierrez

“Reviewing for the journal was an enriching experience, allowing me to contribute to advancing scientific quality and rigor. I appreciate the opportunity to support the journal through peer review and promote excellence in scientific publication”.—Dr. Lucien Reclaru

July 2025

See what our reviewers say about the review process of Coatings:

“Reviewing for Coatings has been an inspiring process, allowing me to contribute to the advancement of high-quality research in materials science.”—Dr. Abdullah Hasan Karabacak

“The review experience was excellent. I appreciate the journal’s emphasis on accepting reviewers’ technical and scientific feedback to improve quality, along with efficient processing times.”—Dr. Abhijith Sukumaran

“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the high quality of the journal’s peer-review process. Reviewing has been a very rewarding experience for me, where I can contribute to the further development of the field, and I look forward to reviewing articles in the future.”—Dr. Bruno Alderete

“Part of the duty of a scientist is to evaluate how other research groups work. I believe that reviewing articles gives you i) on one hand, alternative, more functional, approaches and ii) on the other hand, the chance to offer the community the suggestions that made you the scientist you are today.”—Dr. Gianluca Tondi

“Reviewing for Coatings (MDPI) has been a rewarding way to engage with groundbreaking research in materials science. The editorial team's professionalism—clear guidelines, prompt communication, and respect for reviewers' time—makes the process seamless. I appreciate being included in the Materials 2025 Exceptional Reviewers List as practical recognition, but the true value lies in contributing to a journal that balances speed, rigor, and openness. It is fulfilling to focus on experimental soundness, novelty, and clarity and help authors strengthen their contributions while advancing materials innovation.”—Dr. Nay Win Khun

“Reviewing for Coatings was a great opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research and constructively support the development of materials science.”—Dr. Nikolay Sirotkin

June 2025

See what our reviewers have to say about the review process of Coatings:

“The reviewing process for Coatings is streamlined and easy to conduct through a well-defined interface and prompt communications. Seeing and learning about new developments through the review process also gives me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and be updated on the state of the art in this field.”– Dr. Igor Karlovits

“Serving as a reviewer for Coatings has been a rewarding and intellectually stimulating experience. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to evaluate manuscripts covering a wide range of topics in surface science, thin films, protective layers, and related coating technologies. This role has not only allowed me to contribute to the advancement of the field but has also enriched my own understanding of emerging research trends and experimental methods.

Each review presented a unique challenge, requiring careful consideration of the methodology, data interpretation, and the novelty of the work. I strived to provide constructive, detailed, and balanced feedback that could help authors strengthen their manuscripts while maintaining fairness and objectivity. The editorial team at Coatings has been highly professional and supportive, ensuring smooth communication and clear timelines throughout the review process.”– Dr. Mohsin Sattar

“I value the opportunity to contribute to Coatings by ensuring the quality and impact of published research for the scientific community.”– Dr. Muayad Muayad Habashneh

“Contributing to the peer-review process has always been a rewarding experience for me, as it allows me to engage with cutting-edge research, provide constructive feedback, and help authors strengthen the scientific quality of their work. I greatly value the opportunity to collaborate with the editorial team, who maintain a high standard of academic rigor while ensuring an efficient and transparent review process. Peer review is an essential part of advancing science, and I am proud to contribute to the integrity and excellence of scholarly publishing through Coatings.”– Dr. Mustafa Bora

“Reviewing for Coatings has been a rewarding experience—rigorous, efficient, and inspiring in advancing high-quality research.”– Dr. Rashid Dallaev

January–May 2025

See what our reviewers say about the review process of Coatings:
“I value the opportunity to contribute to science by reviewing manuscripts from around the world. My goal is constructive assessment, helping authors improve their work and enhance its scientific merit.”—Dr. Andrei Chernil'nik

“Serving as a reviewer for Coatings has been a valuable and rewarding experience. The review deadlines are often quite short, which has taught me to approach each manuscript with efficiency and focus. In my reviews, I pay particular attention not only to the scientific rigor and validity of the research, but also to the originality of the work and its compliance with ethical standards in scientific publishing. Throughout my time as a reviewer, I have consistently received prompt and helpful support from the Editorial Office, which has made the process smooth and professional. Their responsiveness and clear communication have greatly contributed to a positive reviewing experience. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of open science through peer review.”—Dr. Anna V. Gubarevich

“Peer reviewing is not only a responsibility but also an opportunity to contribute to the scientific dialogue and support the growth of knowledge.”—Dr. Daniele Almonti

“Serving as a reviewer with the journal of Coatings has been a fulfilling way to contribute to the scientific community and engage with innovative research in my field.”—Dr. Ehsan Hosseini

“I have reviewed a good number of interesting articles for the journal Coatings, and helped to publish good quality articles. The review experience for Coatings is quite good, with excellent support from the Editorial Office and a follow-up process for each reviewed article. In the future, I would also like to commit myself to reviewing articles for the journal Coatings and thereby contributing high-quality and standard publications for the progress of the journal.”—Dr. Golap Kalita

“The review enables me to learn about new techniques, processes, perspectives, and approaches from various researchers worldwide. I enjoy contributing to the improvement of my colleagues' manuscripts.”—Dr. Hilda Esperanza Esparza-Ponce

“Reviewing for Coatings has been a fulfilling experience that allows me to stay engaged with cutting-edge research and support authors through constructive feedback.”—Dr. Hassan Ghanem

“In my review work, I see myself and others as grain boundaries—each catching flaws others might miss, working together to stop errors and strengthen scientific research.”—Dr. Konrad Kwiatkowski

“Reviewing for Coatings was intellectually rewarding, the manuscripts were innovative, well-structured, and aligned with emerging trends in energy materials and environmental sustainability.”—Dr. Kledi Xhaxhiu

“I appreciate my interactions with Coatings as Reviewer and Section Editor very much. I reviewed research on thin various materials covering synthesis methods, structural and optical characterization, and applications in sensors, photovoltaics, nanoelectronics and much more.”—Dr. Mihai Anastasescu

“Reviewing for Coatings is an enriching experience that enables me to support scientific excellence and stay at the forefront of surface and materials engineering research.”—Dr. Onur Güler

“Reviewing manuscripts allows me to stay engaged with the latest developments in my field while supporting the scientific community. I find great satisfaction in reading and evaluating new research, and I am always eager to learn from innovative approaches and emerging topics. Peer review not only enhances my own scientific perspective but also strengthens the overall quality and rigor of published research.”—Dr. Otto Todor-Boer

“It’s rewarding to contribute to a journal that consistently promotes innovation and rigor in the coatings and materials science community.”—Dr. Pragathi Darapaneni

“Reviewing for Coatings has been a smooth and professional experience. The process is efficient, and communication is clear. I'm glad to contribute to the journal’s high standards.”—Dr. Rashid Dallaev

“Participating in peer review has deepened my understanding of current research trends and reinforced my commitment to scientific progress.”—Dr. Ramsha Khan

“For me, reviewing a scientific work is one of the best ways to collaborate for a better diffusion of scientific knowledge. It is much more than pointing out mistakes or requesting explanations. Reviewing is the strategy that I use to help other authors to make their work even better and more impactful for scholars. Every single review I carry out is full of hope that the authors could learn with me at the same time that I learnt from them by reading and analysing their research results. I am glad to help Coatings to improve its impact factor as well as motivate the authors to produce better works.”—Dr. Rodolpho Vaz

“The peer-review experience with Coatings has enabled me to stay up to date with the latest scientific developments, contribute to the quality of published work, and continuously enhance my professional expertise.“—Dr. Sara Havrlisan

“Reviewing for Coatings has been a rewarding experience that has allowed me to contribute to the advancement of high-quality research.”—Dr. Tri Ho Minh Le

“Constant peer-review activity is a way to stay on top of scientific news.”—Dr. Vytenis Jankauskas

You can read more testimonials at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/testimonials?type=all&journal_id=107&page_count=20.

Conference: ACS Fall 2025
Date: 17–21 August 2025
Location: Washington, DC, USA 

MDPI will be attending ACS Fall 2025, which will be held from 17 to 21 August 2025 in Washington, DC, USA. 

The Fall 2025 conference of the American Chemical Society (ACS) will be held in Washington, D.C., the center of global policy. As the largest international academic event in the field of chemistry, this session focuses on “Chemistry Powering Multidisciplinary Solutions”, addressing global challenges such as climate change, the public health crisis, and the energy transition, and promoting the strategic shift from basic research to industrial application. The core theme forums mainly include the following points:

• Breakthroughs in Energy Materials:
• Stability regulation of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI);
• Optimization of hydrogen production efficiency through photocatalytic water cracking (target > 15%);
• Pathways for enhancing the selectivity of carbon dioxide electrocatalytic conversion to C₂+ products.
• Life Sciences and Health:
• Clinical transformation of targeted protein degradation (PROTAC) technology;
• The application of single-cell metabolomics in the early diagnosis of cancer;
• AI-driven rational design of antimicrobial peptides.
• Sustainable Development Technologies:
• Development of plastic chemical recycling catalysts (depolymerization rate ≥ 95%);
• Trace pollutant adsorption based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs);
• Alternative evaluation of green solvents in pharmaceutical processes (PMI index optimization). 

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Molecules;
• Nanomaterials;
• Separations;
• Materials;
• Batteries;
• Polymers;
• Molbank;
• Organics;
• AppliedChem;
• Liquids;
• Reactions;
• Membranes;
• Colorants;
• Chemistry;
• Analytica;
• Coatings;
• Crystals;
• Electrochem;
• Applied Sciences;
• Catalysts;
• Sustainable Chemistry;
• Ceramics;
• C;
• CMD. 

If you are planning to attend the conference, we encourage you to visit our booth and speak to our representatives. We are eager to meet you in person and assist you with any queries that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the official website: https://www.acs.org/events/fall.html.

International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), observed annually on 23 June, is a global initiative that celebrates the outstanding achievements of women in engineering while inspiring more young women to pursue engineering careers. Established in 2014 by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) in the UK, this observance has become a vital platform for advancing diversity and inclusion in the engineering profession.

Aligned with the 2025 theme, “Together We Engineer” and Goal 5 of the SDG Publishers Compact: Gender Equality, MDPI emphasizes the power of collective action to break down gender barriers and foster a more inclusive engineering culture. In this era of both challenges and opportunities, women engineers are driving technological innovation in unprecedented ways—from sustainable development solutions to AI ethics frameworks, their contributions are fundamentally reshaping our industry.

Join us in celebrating International Women in Engineering Day and supporting initiatives that empower women in STEM. Together, we can build a future where engineering innovation thrives through diversity, and where every aspiring engineer has equal opportunities to shape our world.

We are pleased to announce that the first Young Women in Engineering Award is open for nominations. This award was established to acknowledge the achievements of young women investigators in the field of engineering and to inspire young women to consider research and careers in engineering.

Nomination deadline: 30 November 2025.

Prize:

• CHF 1000;
• An electronic certificate;
• A voucher to waive the article processing charges (APCs) for one submission to a journal within the field of engineering (subject to peer review)—valid for one year.

For more details about the award, please visit here. Please feel free to send the nomination letter to ywe-award@mdpi.com.

We are honored to interview several outstanding female scholars in engineering field to share their research journey and your insight into being a female engineer.

	Name: Dr. Teresa Donateo Affiliation: Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Italy “Female engineers often bring a unique set of strengths to academic research, shaped by their life experiences and the challenges they routinely navigate. One particularly valuable strength is the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, a skill frequently sharpened through balancing professional responsibilities with personal commitments, such as motherhood.” Please read the full interview here.
	Name: Dr. Jelena Svorcan Affiliation: Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia “Females are generally very responsible, well organized, do not do everything at the last minute, and can very successfully deal with particular, tedious tasks. They perform well under pressure and are great as team leaders and teachers since they engage more with the younger colleagues, but can also be strict when necessary.” Please read the full interview here.
	Name: Dr. Yong Wei Tiong Affiliations: 1 Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 2 Singapore Integrative Biosystems and Engineering Research (SIBER), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore “Female engineers often bring a collaborative, systems-oriented mindset that’s well-suited for complex interdisciplinary problems. They tend to approach problem-solving holistically and with strong communication skills, qualities essential for cross-functional research.” Please read the full interview here.

“Artificial Intelligence for Non-Destructive Imaging in Composite Materials”
by Mine Seckin, Pinar Demircioglu, Ahmet Cagdas Seckin, Ismail Bogrekci and Serra Aksoy
Eng 2025, 6(3), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng6030046

“Disassembly Plan Representation by Hypergraph”
by Abboy Verkuilen, Mirjam Zijderveld, Niels de Buck and Jenny Coenen
Automation 2025, 6(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation6010010

“Probing Solid-Binding Peptide Self-Assembly Kinetics Using a Frequency Response Cooperativity Model”
by Taylor Bader, Kyle Boone, Chris Johnson, Cindy L. Berrie and Candan Tamerler
Biomimetics 2025, 10(2), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10020107

“Fast Multi-Distance Time-Domain NIRS and DCS System for Clinical Applications”
by Marco Nabacino, Caterina Amendola, Davide Contini, Rebecca Re, Lorenzo Spinelli and Alessandro Torricelli
Sensors 2024, 24(22), 7375; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24227375

“Understanding the Effect of Carbon Nanotube Core Designs on Controlling Bandgaps and Wave Directionality in Cement”
by Nanziri Esther Kayondo and Shreya Vemuganti
Eng 2024, 5(3), 1811–1822; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng5030096

“On the Importance of Solar Radiation and Shading for the Alkali–Aggregate Reaction Prediction of Concrete Arch Dams”
by Noemi Schclar Leitão
Eng 2024, 5(3), 1673–1695; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng5030088

“Label- and Reagent-Free Optical Sensor for Absorption-Based Detection of Urea Concentration in Water Solutions”
by Carlo Anelli, Vanessa Pellicorio, Valentina Bello and Sabina Merlo
Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2754; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092754

“Electromechanical Actuator-Based Solution for a Scissor Lift”
by Łukasz Stawiński, Viacheslav Zakharov, Andrzej Kosucki and Tatiana Minav
Actuators 2023, 12(10), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/act12100394

“A Synthesis-Based Stateful Approach for Guiding Design Thinking in Embedded System Development”
by Hung-Fu Chang and Supannika Koolmanojwong Mobasser
Software 2023, 2(3), 332–349; https://doi.org/10.3390/software2030016

Special Issues:

“New Technologies for Sensors”	“Recent Advances in Compliant Mechanisms”
“Advanced Sensors and Signal Processing for Psychophysiological Monitoring”	“Digital Twins for Sustainable Industrial Processes”
“Micro-/Nanofluidic and Lab-on-a-Chip Devices for Biomedical Applications, 3rd Edition”	“Emerging Trends in Materials Engineering for Clean Energy Applications”

“Effect of Heat Treatment on Polymorphism and Particle Size Distribution of Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticle Synthesized via Mechanochemical Process”
by Md Nuruzzaman, Yanju Liu, Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman, Saifullah Omar Nasif and Ravi Naidu
Appl. Nano 2025, 6(2), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/applnano6020008

“Skin Sensitization Potential of Sensitizers in the Presence of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles In Vitro”
by Claudia Meindl, Kristin Öhlinger, Verena Zrim, Jennifer Ober, Ramona Jeitler, Eva Roblegg and Eleonore Fröhlich
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(22), 1811; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14221811

“Two-Dimensional MoS₂ Nanosheets Derived from Cathodic Exfoliation for Lithium Storage Applications”
by Alberto Martínez-Jódar, Silvia Villar-Rodil, José M. Munuera, Alberto Castro-Muñiz, Jonathan N. Coleman, Encarnación Raymundo-Piñero and Juan I. Paredes
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(11), 932; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14110932

“Gold Nanoparticle-Based Colorimetric and Fluorescent Dual-Mode Lateral Flow Immunoassay for SARS-CoV-2 Detection”
by Ying Gan, Hefan Zhang, Jing Liu, Fuqin He, Fengheng Li, Ao Li, Man Xing, Dongming Zhou, Shan-Yu Fung and Hong Yang
J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(3), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15030058

“Examining the Impact of Intermediate Cooling on Mechanical Properties of 22MnB5 in a Tailored Tempering Process”
by Alborz Reihani, Sebastian Heibel, Thomas Schweiker and Marion Merklein
J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2024, 8(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp8010005

“Investigating the Effect of Interface Temperature on Molecular Interdiffusion during Laser Transmission Welding of 3D-Printed Composite Parts”
by Anh-Duc Le, André Chateau Akué Asséko, Benoît Cosson and Patricia Krawczak
Materials 2023, 16(18), 6121; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16186121

“Synthesis, Physicochemical Characteristics, and Biocompatibility of Multi-Component Collagen-Based Hydrogels Developed by E-Beam Irradiation”
by Maria Demeter, Andreea Mariana Negrescu, Ion Calina, Anca Scarisoreanu, Mădălina Albu Kaya, Marin Micutz, Marius Dumitru and Anisoara Cimpean
J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14(9), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14090454

“A Modelling-Based Framework for Carbon Emissions Calculation in Additive Manufacturing: A Stereolithography Case Study”
by Vasiliki C. Panagiotopoulou, Aikaterini Paraskevopoulou and Panagiotis Stavropoulos
Processes 2023, 11(9), 2574; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092574

“Natural Polyphenols and the Corrosion Protection of Steel: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives for Green and Promising Strategies”
by Rossella Sesia, Silvia Spriano, Marco Sangermano and Sara Ferraris
Metals 2023, 13(6), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13061070

Special Issues:

“Recent Developments in Friction Stir Welding Technology and Applications”	“Women’s Special Issue Series: Functional Biomaterials (2nd Edition)”
“Healthy and Affordable Zero-Emission Buildings: A Challenge for the Near Future”	“Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Biomimetic Surfaces and Interfaces 2025”
“Advanced Materials and Processing Technologies”	“The 15th Anniversary of Nanomaterials—Women in Nanomaterials”

We are pleased to announce that the Young Women in Engineering Award is open for nominations. This award was established to acknowledge the achievements of young women investigators in the field of engineering and to inspire young women to consider research and careers in engineering. All the nominations will be assessed by an Award Evaluation Committee, and winners will be announced online on 8 March 2026.

Prizes:

• CHF 1000;
• An electronic certificate;
• A voucher to waive the article processing charges (APCs) for one submission to a journal within the field of engineering (subject to peer review)—valid for one year.

Number of winners: 2.

Eligibility and requirements:

• This role is designated for female candidates;
• Must have received their Ph.D. no more than 10 years prior to 31 December 2025;
• Must have produced groundbreaking research and made a significant contribution to the advancement of engineering;
• Must be nominated by senior scientists.

List of documents for nomination:

• Detailed curriculum vitae, including an updated publication list and a list of the researcher’s own research grants;
• Scanned copy of doctorate certificate;
• Signed nomination letters from two established senior scientists.

Schedule:

Open for nominations: 23 June 2025;
Nomination deadline: 30 November 2025;
Winner announcement: 8 March 2026.

Nominations and contact:

All nomination materials and award-related communications must be submitted via our official email: ywe-award@mdpi.com.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We look forward to receiving your nominations.

Young Women in Engineering Award Team

The 9th European Conference on Tribology will be held from 28 to 30 July 2025, in Zurich, Switzerland. The conference is organized by Swiss Tribology.

Topics to be covered at the conference include the following:

• Biotribology and biotribomaterials;
• Coatings and surface engineering;
• Friction, wear, and contact mechanisms;
• Green tribology;
• Industrial, automotive, and manufacturing case studies;
• Lubrication and lubricants, including solid lubricants;
• Modeling, simulations, and machine learning in tribology;
• Nano- and microtribology;
• Tribochemistry;
• Tribocorrosion.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Lubricants;
• Machines;
• Surfaces;
• Colloids and Interfaces;
• Eng;
• Coatings;
• Metals;
• CMD.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at the booth and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.ecotrib25.ch/.

We are pleased to share that Coatings (ISSN: 2079-6412) has received an increased CiteScore of 5.4 in June 2025. The CiteScore ranks the journal 45 out of 132 titles (Q2) in the “Surfaces, Coatings and Films” category, an impressive achievement for a journal running in Volume 15.

You can find more statistics on our website.

The current CiteScores measure the average number of citations within a journal over a four-year window (2021–2024). The Scopus database provides a comprehensive suite of metrics that support informed publishing strategies, research evaluation and enable benchmarking of journal performance.

This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our authors, reviewers, and editors. Together we will continue to track the progress of Coatings and its growing impact in science and engineering of coatings, thin and thick films, surfaces and interfaces.

In order to further enhance the international influence of the journal Coatings (ISSN: 2079-6412), promote the academic exchange of young scientists, and support the Editorial Board with additional expertise, Coatings is inviting interested and eligible early career researchers to apply for Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) membership.

Recruitment:
A total of 100 Early Career Editorial Board Members will be recruited. Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) members will hold the position for two years with the possibility of renewal for a second term.

Application Eligibility:

• Completion of a doctorate/Ph.D. degree within the past 10 years (considering exceptions for career interruptions, including medical and family leave);
• Evidence of significant research achievements in the field of science and engineering of coatings, thin and thick films, surfaces and interfaces;
• Willingness to dedicate time to the development of the journal with passion and enthusiasm;
• Researchers who are active and engaged in their community (e.g., experience presenting at academic conferences or involvement in professional organizations).

Benefits of an Early Career Editorial Board Member:

• A certificate of appointment as an Early Career Editorial Board Member is provided;
• The achievements of Early Career Editorial Board Members are publicized on journal media platforms to improve academic visibility;
• An opportunity to be promoted to Editorial Board Member based on contributions;
• The journal regularly acknowledges those who participate in the peer-review process on the journal website;
• Opportunities to participate in or host annual meetings and online seminars organized by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board Members.

Responsibilities of an Early Career Editorial Board Member:

• Publicizing and promoting the journal at academic conferences and among peers;
• Selecting high-quality articles and preparing bilingual media content for promotion;
• Reviewing at least four manuscripts per year;
• Providing input on any new journal development initiatives;
• Inviting submissions from local and overseas world-leading scientists in their respective research fields.

Applications:
Please fill in the application form here.

Please send the application form and your academic resume to coatings@mdpi.com with the subject line reading “Coatings Early Career Editorial Board Application + Name + Institution + Research Expertise”.

Application deadline: 30 September 2025.

Selection process and announcement:
The selection process will include an initial screening of application materials → selection by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members → email notification → issuing a certificate of appointment.

The selection will be made within one month of the application deadline, and the results will be announced on the journal’s website.

The Section “Coatings for Food Technology and System” of Coatings (ISSN: 2079-6412) aims to cover fundamental and applied aspects related to Coatings for the food sector. This Section expects contributions that can provide an advancement in knowledge and understanding of phenomena connected with the design, development, and performance of Coatings primarily intended for direct or indirect quality preservation and shelf life extension of foods.

As all of the articles published in our journal are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full texts. We are pleased to invite you to read the most highly cited papers in 2024. We hope these papers will be useful for this field, and the list of papers is as follows:

1. “Preservative Effects of Flaxseed Gum-Sodium Alginate Active Coatings Containing Carvacrol on Quality of Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) during Cold Storage”
by Xinru Yang, Shiyuan Fang, Yao Xie, Jun Mei and Jing Xie
Coatings 2024, 14(3), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/Coatings14030338
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/3/338

2. “Migration and Safety Aspects of Plastic Food Packaging Materials: Need for Reconsideration?”
by Andreas Panou and Ioannis Konstantinos Karabagias
Coatings 2024, 14(2), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/Coatings14020168
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/2/168

3. “Chitosan-Based Films with Essential Oil Components for Food Packaging”
by Magdalena Woźniak, Joanna Młodziejewska, Karolina Stefanowska, Lucyna Mrówczyńska, Anna Sip, Renata Dobrucka and Izabela Ratajczak
Coatings 2024, 14(7), 830; https://doi.org/10.3390/Coatings14070830
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/7/830

4. “Mechanisms of Action and Preservation Effects of Packaging Systems for Mushrooms: Novel Approaches to Preserve Irish Edible Mushrooms”
by Tigist Tadesse Shonte, Mehraj Fatema Mulla, Lorraine Foley and Shivani Pathania
Coatings 2024, 14(2), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/Coatings14020172
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/2/172

5. “Evaluation of Edible Coatings from Components from Chlorella vulgaris and Comparison with Conventional Coatings”
by Alexandra Mari, Charilaos Fafalis and Magdalini Krokida
Coatings 2024, 14(5), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/Coatings14050621
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/5/621

6. “Optimisation of the Encapsulation of Grape Pomace Extract by Spray Drying Using Goat Whey Protein as a Coating Material”
by Gabriela Perković, Mirela Planinić, Gordana Šelo, Josipa Martinović, Radenko Nedić, Matej Puš and Ana Bucić-Kojić
Coatings 2024, 14(9), 1101; https://doi.org/10.3390/Coatings14091101
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/9/1101

7. “Camelina sativa Oilseed Cake as a Potential Source of Biopolymer Films: A Chemometric Approach to Synthesis, Characterization, and Optimization”
by Danijela Šuput, Lato Pezo, Slađana Rakita, Nedeljka Spasevski, Ružica Tomičić, Nevena Hromiš and Senka Popović
Coatings 2024, 14(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/Coatings14010095
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/1/95

8. “Development of pH Indicator Composite Films Based on Anthocyanins and Neutral Red for Monitoring Minced Meat and Fish in Modified Gas Atmosphere (MAP)”
by Marwa Faisal, Tomas Jacobson, Lene Meineret, Peter Vorup, Heloisa N. Bordallo, Jacob Judas Kain Kirkensgaard, Peter Ulvskov and Andreas Blennow
Coatings 2024, 14(6), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/Coatings14060725
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/6/725

9. “Nanocomposite Coatings of Pectin and Oxide Zinc Nanoparticles to Increase Papaya Shelf Life”
by Joelma Saures dos Santos, Caroline Cagnin, Bheatriz Silva Morais de Freitas, Richard Marins da Silva, Glaydson Brasileiro Lopes de Jesus, Celso Martins Belisário, Mariana Buranelo Egea, Josemar Gonçalves de Oliveira Filho and Geovana Rocha Plácido
Coatings 2024, 14(8), 990; https://doi.org/10.3390/Coatings14080990
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/8/990

10. “The Antifungal and Antiviral Activity of Coatings Containing Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Verbascum L. or Formitopsis betulina Extracts and Their Influence on the Quality of Strawberries after Storage”
by Małgorzata Mizielińska, Magdalena Ordon, Weronika Burdajewicz, Paweł Nawrotek, Józef Sternal and Marcin Okręglicki
Coatings 2024, 14(3), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/Coatings14030260
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/3/260