Competing Interests

Reviewers should decline the invitation to review if they have a competing interest/conflict of interest with the submission.  Examples include, but are not limited to:

  1. Employment
    • Holding a position in the same institution as the authors
    • Seeking employment at the same institution as the authors
  2. Financial
    • Have ownership in an equity or enterprise that would benefit from the publication
    • Would directly/indirectly receive income as a result of publication
  3. Personal
    • Author is a family member, professional/business partner, or former Ph.D. student
    • Author is collaborator in past 48 months
    • Author is co-editor in past 24 months

Reviewers should report a competing interest/conflict of interest if a reasonable person with all relevant facts would question their impartiality.