ASPET Journals Internal Manuscript Transfer Process FAQ
An efficient manuscript transfer process has been developed to provide authors with another option to publish within ASPET journals.
What benefits come from transferring my paper?
- Time Saved: Complete the transfer with just a few clicks. No need to re-enter any information. No reformatting necessary.
- Faster Publication: The ability to easily transfer manuscript and image files with reviewer comments speeds consideration and publication.
- Expedited Review: Existing reviewer comments can be used by the receiving journal, with reviewers’ identities (at their option) passed on to help the editor expedite the review process
What is transferred?
The following information and materials are transferred between journals:
- All author and manuscript information.
- All manuscript files, including the cover letter.
- Reviewer comments from the most recent version of the manuscript, if the manuscript was peer reviewed. This includes the reviewers’ identities (at the reviewers’ option).
How does manuscript transfer work?
When an editor believes that a rejected manuscript may be appropriate for another ASPET journal, the decision letter will contain a link to transfer the manuscript. Clicking this link will provide a choice of ASPET journals. Select the journal and confirm the transfer. You will be emailed a link that takes you to the submission page of the receiving journal. Once there, you can begin to upload or remove any manuscript files (e.g., submit a revised manuscript that addresses the reviewers’ concerns), review author and manuscript information, and answer any questions particular to the receiving journal. The transfer process involves the following steps:
- Select the receiving journal.
- Review your choice.
- Transfer manuscript files to the new journal.
- Review files and upload/remove as necessary.
- Review all author and manuscript information transferred for any changes needed.
- Answer any questions particular to the receiving journal.
- Validate files and submit your paper for review.
Does clicking the transfer link and selecting a journal commit me to transferring my manuscript?
No. Information is not transferred until you complete the process described above. Even after the transfer process is complete, you have the option of contacting the ASPET editorial office to withdraw your manuscript.
Will the editor handling my manuscript discuss it with editors of the other journal?
No. Each journal is editorially independent.
Will the transfer of negative peer review comments preclude consideration at the receiving journal?
No. Editors expect to see criticism, even of work that is suitable for publication. Criticisms can often be readily addressed or not apply at the other journal due to differences in journal scope or perceived significance of the work.
Can and should I address negative referee comments during the transfer process?
Although you have the option of transferring all materials with no changes, you may choose to modify and replace your manuscript files and update manuscript information. If you make changes based on the reviews from the previous journal, please provide a point-by-point response to the reviewer comments to explain what changes were made and/or highlight what efforts were undertaken to address the various points; this may help expedite peer review in the second journal.
Should I modify my manuscript even if it was not peer reviewed?
Because each ASPET journal has its own editorial scope, it can sometimes be helpful to revise your materials to better reflect the expectations of the new journal. Alternatively, you can keep the same files and update your cover letter to remove any confidential information from the original cover letter that you don’t want to communicate to the new journal.
How do I modify my manuscript files after I transfer?
You will receive a confirmation email at the end of the transfer process that provides access to your submission in the new journal and allows you to replace any files prior to completing submission to the new journal.
Will the receiving journal request comments from new referees?
Possibly. If the names of the reviewers are transferred and their comments have been addressed, then every effort is made to rely solely on the reviewers who already evaluated the work. If the manuscript is transferred to the new journal without any changes, then a new reviewer(s) may be assigned if one or all the original reviewers are unavailable.
Does manuscript transfer allow me to retain my original submission date?
No. Each journal is editorially independent; in the event of publication in the receiving journal, the published “received date” will be the date when the receiving journal receives the transferred manuscript.
May I transfer my manuscript and appeal the decision at the original journal?
No. A manuscript may only be under consideration at one journal at a time. Authors may not appeal decisions or enter correspondence with the journal that has declined their manuscript while simultaneously transferring the manuscript for consideration by another journal.
Do I need to use the transfer system to submit to the other journal?
No. If you do not wish to transfer information about a previous review process, you may instead submit the manuscript to a second ASPET journal using the usual submission procedure. If you use the usual submission procedure, the editors will not have knowledge of any prior submissions to other journals. Also, reviews and responses to reviews from the previous journal will not be considered by the editors. Those reviews and responses are only available through the transfer system.
Will my transferred paper require a new submission fee payment?
Yes. Your transferred paper is considered to be a new submission to when sent to a different ASPET journal. As such, the submission fee will need to be paid. If one of the authors is an active ASPET member, please provide the name of the member by emailing aspetjournals-billing@aspet.org in order to qualify for the fee waiver.