Biophysical Society Bulletin | June 2024

Career Development

What Should I Do about Very Negative Reviewer Comments on My Paper? Congratulations on submitting your

Reviewers vary widely in their backgrounds and opinions. This can lead to all sorts of feedback, from reasonable suggestions to more unusual requests. For instance, a reviewer might insist you use a specific method they prefer, or complain that your work isn't relevant enough to biology, or ask for a ton of extra experiments. It can even get personal, which is not ideal. Normally, editors filter out any inappropriate personal comments, but it doesn't always happen. If you encounter a harsh personal critique, don't take it too personally. Instead, focus on responding politely and confidently. Work with your principal investigator (PI) or colleagues to craft a strong, professional rebuttal to each point. Use references from other experts to back up your arguments and show the editor why the reviewer's criticisms can be overcome. Remember, your goal is not to convince the reviewer, but to persuade the editor that your work stands up to scrutiny. The editor might even de cide not to use that reviewer again, but it's not guaranteed. Together with your PI, you can surely tackle this hurdle and get your paper published. Do not take these negative comments too seriously. Navigating feedback is a fundamental part of scien tific progress and this can include both negative and positive feedback. It is not uncommon for one reviewer to think a paper is fantastic while another harshly criticizes it (based on their per spective, of course!). Fingers crossed for more favorable reviews next time! — Molly Cule

paper! This is always an exciting thing to do. At the same time, I am sorry to hear that you received negative feedback from a reviewer, but don’t let that shake your confidence. Unfortunately, negative feedback is not uncommon in the peer review process. Indeed, it is somewhat baked into the

cake, if you will. However, the way that this feedback is given varies a lot. While there are some expected standards, sadly not all reviewers will follow them. Most people agree that peer review should focus on the science in the paper and that the main task of the reviewer is to check that the statements in the paper match the presented data: that is, whether the science in the paper is consistent with obtained data and the literature. A personal attack on the authors or an overly subjective com mentary should be avoided. However, this still happens. Some times, when papers are reviewed, it can be a bit unpredictable.

Young Scientists Receive Biophysics Award at Science Fairs

The Biophysics Award, sponsored by the Biophysical Society’s Education Committee, is presented to high school students at regional and state science fairs across the United States. The award is presented to the student with the best biophysics- related project, as determined by local judges and BPS volunteers. Each student winner receives a monetary award of $100 and recognition from BPS for their outstanding achievement. The winning projects covered a wide variety of topics and subject areas, such as bioinformatics, equitable cancer detection, and veterinary procedures. In 2024, BPS was proud to present The Biophysics Award at the following fairs: • Anne Arundel County Regional Science and Engineering Fair • BCC/Rensselaer Region III Science and Engineering Fair • Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair • Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair

• Montgomery County Science Research Competition • Northeastern Indiana Tri-State Regional Science Fair • Northwest Science Expo • Prince George's Area Science Fair • Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair • San Luis Valley Regional Science Fair • Terra North Jersey STEM Fair

• California Science and Engineering Fair • Colorado Science and Engineering Fair • Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair • Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair • Georgia Science and Engineering Fair • Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair

The Society could not give these awards and encourage young scientists without the help of members who volunteer to judge. We are so grateful to the judges who give back to their local communities to share their passion for biophysics. For many students, presenting at a science fair might be their first time giving a science talk outside of an in-school presentation and it might be their first step towards a scientific career. Many shared their gratitude for the award and their pleasure at being able to present to real scientists in the field.

June 2024

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