Announcements

On 14 November 2024, MDPI, in collaboration with the Biology Graduate Student Club at Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) School of Biological Sciences, conducted an engaging and informative Author Training session. Tailored to early career researchers, this workshop provided practical guidance on navigating the academic publishing process, with a particular focus on open access publishing.

A Focused Agenda for Research Success

The training session covered five key topics designed to address common challenges faced by researchers in publishing their work:

• Introduction to the Open Access Model
  Participants learned about the advantages of open access, including improved visibility and accessibility of published research;

• How to Write Scientific Papers in English
  Tips on structuring papers, enhancing clarity, and meeting international journal standards helped attendees refine their academic writing skills;

• Identifying Research Topics and Conducting Research
  This segment provided strategies for selecting impactful research topics and introduced tools to streamline the research process;

• Reasons for Rejection at Pre-check
  Common reasons for pre-check rejections, such as out-of-scope research or lack of novelty, were discussed, with advice on avoiding these issues;

• How to Respond to Peer Reviewers
  Researchers gained practical insights into addressing reviewer feedback professionally and improving their manuscripts.

An Engaging Q&A Session

The interactive Q&A session stood out as a lively and insightful component of the training. Participants actively shared their experiences with pre-check rejections and peer review, bringing up challenges such as manuscripts being deemed out of scope or lacking originality.

In response, the MDPI team introduced participants to the Journal Finder Tool, a platform designed to help authors identify MDPI journals best suited for their research. By selecting the right journal, authors can increase their chances of acceptance and ensure that their work reaches its intended audience.

Special Guest: Prof. Surajit Bhattacharyya

A highlight of the event was a closing address by Prof. Surajit Bhattacharyya, a distinguished faculty member of NTU’s School of Biological Sciences. Drawing on his extensive publishing experience, Prof. Bhattacharyya provided practical advice on succeeding in the academic publishing process.

He emphasized the importance of carefully selecting journals that align with one’s research, adhering to submission guidelines, and addressing reviewer feedback with a collaborative mindset. His insights left a lasting impression on the audience, inspiring them to approach the publishing process with greater confidence.

Building Knowledge and Confidence

The Author Training session demonstrated MDPI’s commitment to empowering the academic community with the skills and resources needed for publishing success. Participants left the event with a clearer understanding of the publishing process and actionable strategies to overcome common challenges.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed appreciations for the practical tips, particularly those related to improving their manuscripts and navigating peer review. The tools and resources shared, including the Journal Finder Tool, were especially well-received.

Looking Ahead

MDPI extends its gratitude to NTU’s School of Biological Sciences and the Biology Graduate Student Club for their support in organizing this successful event. Special thanks also go to Prof. Bhattacharyya for his invaluable contribution.

As we continue to support the academic community, MDPI looks forward to hosting similar events to guide researchers in their publishing journeys. Stay connected for updates on future Author Training sessions and other initiatives!

For readers interested in collaborating through academic events, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at marketing-singapore@mdpi.com or visit https://www.mdpi.com/offices/singapore/workshops for more information.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 685 Editorial Board Members of our journals – from 39 different countries and territories – who have been recognized as Highly Cited Researchers for 2024 by Clarivate. This distinction highlights their exceptional scientific achievements and significant contributions, which transcend academic boundaries to advance global knowledge, sustainability, security, and well-being.

Clarivate's annual Highly Cited Researcher™ list identifies the most influential scientists of the past decade, whose work has had a profound and widespread impact across various scientific and social science disciplines. Their impactful papers rank among the top 1% by citations in one or more of the 21 fields analyzed within the "Essential Science Indicators," marking them as leaders in their respective domains.

"Highly Cited Researchers have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research," according to Clarivate. In 2024, a total of 6,886 Highly Cited Researcher designations were awarded to 6,636 individuals.

The following is a list of MDPI's Editorial Board Members named Highly Cited Researchers in 2024. We congratulate them for their achievement and their contributions to advancing knowledge in their respective fields.

In order to further enhance the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS, ISSN: 1422-0067), promote the academic exchange of young scientists, and support the Editorial Board with additional talent, the first Early Career Editorial Board of IJMS (2025–2026) is being set up, and outstanding young scholars are invited to join!

Recruitment:
A total of 100 Early Career Editorial Board Members are planned to be recruited.

Application eligibility:

• Completed their doctorate/Ph.D. degree in the past 10 years (considering exceptions for career interruptions, including medical and family leave);
• Served as the first author on at least five peer-reviewed and published manuscripts;
• Have a strong and impactful portfolio of publications in their field of research;
• Researchers that are currently (at the time of application) an assistant professor, research assistant professor, associate research scientist, post-doctoral fellow, or equivalent early career position;
• Researchers that are active and engaged in their community (e.g., experienced at presenting at academic conferences or involved in professional organizations).

Benefits of Early Career Editorial Board Members include the following:

• A certificate of being an Early Career Editorial Board Member will be provided. The term of Early Career Editorial Board membership is two years and can then be renewed;
• The resumes of Early Career Editorial Board Members will be publicized on journal media platforms to improve academic visibility;
• An opportunity to be promoted to an Editorial Board Member based on contributions;
• The journal will regularly acknowledge those who participate in the peer review process on the journal’s website;
• Opportunities to exchange ideas with internationally influential researchers in this field; opportunities to participate in or host annual meetings and online seminars organized by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members.

Responsibilities of Early Career Editorial Board Members include the following:

• Publicizing and promoting the journal at academic conferences and among peers;
• Selecting high-quality articles and preparing media content for their promotion;
• Reviewing at least four manuscripts per year;
• Identifying potential reviewers for specific papers, and assessing any potential ethical or policy-based questions that might arise due to the papers’ content;
• Supporting the development of the journal through various means, such as providing suggestions, promoting the journal via academic networks, academic conferences, new media channels, etc.;
• Inviting submissions from world-leading scientists in their respective research fields through both local and global networks;
• Learning about the scholarly publishing landscape, including gaining an awareness of the manuscript review process, ethical considerations, and the strategies used by publishers.

Applications:

Please fill in the application form here.

Please send the application form and your academic resume to ijms@mdpi.com with the subject “IJMS Early Career Editorial Board Application + Name + Institute + Research Expertise”.

Application deadline: 31 March 2025.

Selection process:

Initial screening of application materials → selection by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members → email notification → issuing a certificate of appointment.

We are honored to announce that Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn will serve as the Chair of the 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee.

Name: Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn
Affiliation: College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, USA

Prof. Dr. Kinghorn is a leading expert in pharmacognosy and natural products research. He is recognized for his key contributions to discovering bioactive compounds from plants, especially in anticancer, cancer chemopreventive, and substances with a sweet taste and taste-modifying agents. His prolific contributions include over 590 peer-reviewed works and edited or co-edited 40 scientific volumes.

The 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee, under Prof. Dr. Kinghorn's guidance, will focus on identifying innovative research in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. The committee will aim to identify groundbreaking work with the potential to lead to significant advancements in these areas.

We are confident that, with Prof. Dr. Kinghorn at the helm, the 2024 Tu Youyou Award will continue to inspire excellence and innovation in the related fields.

About the Tu Youyou Award
Established in 2016, the Tu Youyou Award seeks to honor those who excel in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. This award offers a total prize of CHF 100,000, which will be equally divided among the winners if there is more than one, with each recipient receiving an award medal.

The 2024 Tu Youyou Award remains open for nominations until 31 December 2024. We encourage all eligible candidates to participate in this prestigious recognition, as this award not only honors individual achievement but also encourages further scientific exchange, exploration and discovery in critical areas of medicine.

If you are interested in participating, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website for more information on the nomination requirements.

Conference: Plant & Animal Genome 32 Conference
Organization: Scherago International
Date: 10–15 January 2025
Place: San Diego, CA, USA

MDPI journals will be attending the Plant & Animal Genome 32 Conference as exhibitors. This meeting will be held at the Town & Country Resort and Conference Center, San Diego, USA, from 10 to 15 January 2025. 

The Plant & Animal Genome Conference (PAG) will bring together the leading genetic scientists and researchers involved in plant and animal research and related areas. With 62 countries typically represented, the Plant & Animal Genome Conference provides an established forum for the exchange of information internationally as well as in the USA. Approximately 39% of attendees travel to the PAG from outside the USA, making the conference a truly global event. Of the attendees, 73% checked “Plant” and 27% checked “Animal” as their areas of interest.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Plants;
• Agronomy;
• Life;
• Epigenomes;
• Biochem;
• Current Issues in Molecular Biology (CIMB);
• International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS);
• Animals;
• International Journal of Plant Biology (IJPB);
• Taxonomy;
• Crops;
• Agriculture;
• Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens (JZBG);
• Horticulturae;
• Genes;
• Grasses;
• Seeds.

MDPI, in collaboration with Nanyang Technological University’s School of Biological Sciences and the Biology Graduate Student Club, is excited to host an insightful author training session focused on the essentials of open access publishing.

This comprehensive session will provide participants with a clear understanding of MDPI's publishing process, alongside effective writing techniques and research strategies for crafting scientific papers. Led by our experienced Academic Editors, attendees will receive tailored guidance designed for various author groups, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and tools required to navigate and excel in their publishing journeys.

Date: 14 November 2024
Time: 2:00–5:00 p.m.
Venue: Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Classroom 1

Chair:

Dr. Surajit Bhattacharyya Associate Professor School of Biological Sciences

Prof. Surajit Bhattacharyya received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. He then carried out post-doctoral research at the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, Montreal, in Biomolecular NMR and was subsequently appointed as a staff scientist of the NRC. Prof Bhattacharyya then joined Nanyang Technological University’s School of Biological Sciences as an Assistant Professor and was promoted with tenure to Associate Professor thereafter.   His laboratory is engaged in cutting-edge and diverse research, including the following: (1) Molecular mechanisms of cell adhesion proteins, integrins, and development of therapeutics against cancer, inflammation, and blood-related diseases; (2) Host defense antimicrobial peptides and proteins with the aim to design new antimicrobials and antiendotoxic molecules; and (3) the de novo design of functional synthetic proteins. Prof. Bhattacharyya’s research has thus far yielded over 95 publications in leading journals. In addition, he serves as an Academic Editor for multiple journals including PLOS One, Scientific Reports, and the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS). Prof. Bhattacharyya is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and an Overseas Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.

MDPI Speakers:

Dr. Wei Thye Lee Institutional Partnerships Manager MDPI Singapore

Dr. Wei Thye Lee earned his Ph.D. from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with research on experimental therapeutics in pre-clinical models of neurodegenerative diseases. He has published in many Scopus- and Web of Science (WOS)-indexed journals throughout his academic career. With MDPI, he has served in many editorial roles such as Assistant Editor, Publishing Specialist, and Special Issue Editor. He is currently the Institutional Partnership Manager for MDPI, liaising with institutions in the Asia Pacific (APAC).

Mr. Djordje Bozic Section Managing Editor MDPI Serbia

Mr. Djordje Bozic joined MDPI in November 2020 as an Assistant Editor for the Applied Sciences Journal. He is currently serving as a Section Managing Editor and Journal Relations Specialist for the MDPI Journals Applied Sciences, Oral, ASI, Gastronomy, and Applied Nano.   He received his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the Faculty of Mining and Geology at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, where he also completed his Master’s degree in the same field.

Organizer:

Five new journals covering a diverse range of subjects launched their inaugural issue in September 2024. Like other journals in MDPI’s portfolio, these journals are dedicated to sharing the latest research through open access, reflecting our commitment to making knowledge accessible to all.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Editorial Board Members for their dedication to the launch and development of our new journals. Each journal will ensure its high-quality output via excellent editorial and rigorous peer-review processes so that the published articles achieve significant impact and broad visibility.

We invite you to explore and learn more about these new journals below.

Journal	Founding Editor-in-Chief	Journal Topics (Selected)
	Prof. Dr. Nejat Düzgüneş, University of the Pacific, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	biological therapy and stem-cell therapy; drug therapy; chemotherapy; radiation and other nonsurgical therapeutic strategies | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Magda Tsolaki, Greek Federation of Alzheimer’s Disease, Greece; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece | Editorial | view inaugural issue	surgical/procedural complications; complications; perioperative adverse events; postoperative adverse events | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Steven R. Fassnacht, Colorado State University, USA; Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	ice as a mineral; atmospheric ice; sea ice; freshwater ice; ice sheets; ice caps and ice shelves | view journal scope | submit an article
	Dr. Francisco Epelde, Hospital Universitari Parc Tauli, Spain; University Autonoma of Barcelona, Spain | Editorial | view inaugural issue	hospital management; hospital facilities; hospital services; hospital risk management; health law | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Nicola Ferri, University of Padova, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue	lipids in cells and whole organisms; lipid structure and function; lipid products and processes; dietary lipids and nutrition | view journal scope | submit an article

We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to send an application here or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com) if you would like to create more new journals.

Conference: The 47th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan
Date: 26–29 November 2024
Location: Fukuoka, Japan

MDPI will attend the 47th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan which will be held from 26 to 29 November 2024 in Fukuoka, Japan. This is an annual conference organized by the Molecular Biology Society of Japan covering themes such as Molecular, Cell, Development and Regeneration, Animal and Plant Physiology, and Diseases.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Biology;
• IJMS;
• Marine Drugs;
• MPs;
• Epigenomes;
• Antioxidants;
• Organoids.

If you plan on attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit: https://www.aeplan.jp/mbsj2024.

The third ASBMB-BSC Symposium on the Interplay between Epigenetic Regulation and Genome Integrity will be held from 21 to 25 October 2024, in Wuhan, China. The conference is co-organized by the Biophysics Society of China (BSC) and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).

Topics include the following:

• Epigenetic regulation of genome replication;
• Dynamic epigenetic alterations maintaining genome stability;
• Chromatin-based epigenetic inheritance;
• The role of epigenetic alterations in cancer and aging.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• CIMB;
• Genes;
• IJMS;
• Biomedicines;
• Epigenomes;
• JDB.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at our booth #9 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please click the following link: https://www.bsc.org.cn/bsc-asbmb-epigenetics/.