Instructions for Referees
The SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization (SICON) depends heavily on our referees, and we are greatly indebted for maintaining the quality and timeliness of our journal. Thank you for your help in assessing manuscripts.
Editorial Policy
The SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization publishes research articles on the mathematics applied to the physical, engineering, and life sciences. Submitted articles should contribute to the mathematical understanding of specific scientific problems or to solution techniques useful in applications. Manuscripts applying known methods to previously solved problems or providing mathematical analysis in the absence of significant scientific motivation or application will not be accepted.
Appropriate subject areas include the physical, engineering, financial, and life sciences. Examples are problems in fluid mechanics, including reaction-diffusion problems, sedimentation, combustion, and transport theory; solid mechanics; elasticity; electromagnetic theory and optics; mathematical biology, including population dynamics, biomechanics, and physiology; linear and nonlinear wave propagation, including scattering theory and wave propagation in random media; inverse problems; nonlinear dynamics; stochastic processes, including queueing theory and finance; signal processing; and image processing. Mathematical techniques include asymptotic methods, bifurcation theory, dynamical systems theory, and probabilistic and statistical methods. The foregoing list is not exhaustive, however, and papers addressing the mathematics involved in new applications areas not listed here are also welcome.
In general, papers that have appeared elsewhere will not be considered. If some form of the paper has appeared previously, even in a conference proceedings, this fact must be indicated clearly in both a cover letter and a footnote on the first page of the paper.
Due to space limitations, papers should usually occupy no more than approximately 20 journal pages. This limit can be exceeded; however, substantial deviations from the page limit require that the referees, editor, and editor-in-chief be convinced that the increased length is both required by the subject matter and justified by the quality of the paper.
Review Process
The manuscript submission and peer review process is broken down into the following steps:- The Author submits a manuscript.
- The Editor-in-Chief assigns a Corresponding Editor and an Associate Editor to handle the review of the manuscript.
- The Associate Editor selects Referees to review and report on the manuscript.
- The Referees review the manuscript.
- The Associate Editor makes a recommendation, which is then reviewed by the Corresponding Editor. The author is contacted.
Navigating the System
All SICON papers go through review in the web-based Journal Submission & Tracking System; http://peerreview.siam.org/.When invited to serve as a referee there are two ways to gain access to the manuscript.
- You'll receive an e-mail with basic information about the paper, a
link to accept the assignment, and a link to decline the
assignment.
Accept referee assignment: If you accept, the link will automatically log you into the system and take you directly to the files for the pertinent paper.
Decline referee assignment: If you are unable to review this manuscript and must decline we appreciate any suggestions of potential referees. You can suggest other reviewers or offer any observation on the paper by e-mailing sicon@siam.org. - You can alternately access your files by logging into the system
through http://sicon.siam.org.
Enter your user name and password. You are then taken to your "Home"
page. It will have different categories of tasks. If you are required
to perform a pending action item, there will be a red arrow next to a
manuscript link. After clicking on this link, you will be presented
with a "Manuscript" screen containing:
- Information about the specific manuscript.
- A link to see the manuscript
- Links to Accept/Decline to serve as a referee
- A link to contact journal staff
Review Manuscript
Once in the system you will be presented with a "Manuscript" screen. At the bottom of this screen under "Manuscript Tasks" is a "Review Manuscript" link. Clicking on this link displays the "Review Manuscript" screen. This screen asks for a recommendation and for a report.** Note that in giving a recommendation, along with a free-form text box that allows you to copy and paste a report and /or comments, you must:
Select from a drop-down menu. This manuscript is:
- Excellent;
- Good;
- Fair;
- Poor;
- Not appropriate for the journal.
- Reject outright;
- Return to the author for major revisions, outlined in comments;
- Publish after minor revisions, outlined in comments; or
- Publish as is.
Finally, a manuscript evaluation form is available, but the use of this is optional.
If you prefer to work offline, you may find it faster and easier to download and print the manuscript, draft your review remarks in plain text, and copy and paste into the referee remarks text area on this screen.
Again, the manuscript evaluation form is optional; the drop-down recommendations and report are required.
NOTE: As a referee, SICON offers the option of attaching a file to deliver your report. It is recommended, however, that you instead use the text box on the Referee Recommendation Screen to type or paste plain text or TeX code. File attachments are not recommended, as referee confidentiality may be compromised. However, if you must send an attachment know that it may be forwarded to the author by the Reviewing Editor, so please be sure to first edit the file for profile information that—if left in place—could disclose your identity as the owner/creator.
Private Note to Editors
Referees wishing to make a point to the editors that is not meant for the author can use the text box labeled "Private Message to Review Editor." This is found directly below the "Detailed Comments" text box where you enter your report. The "Private Message to Review Editor" text box is optional, and should be used only for items not to be forwarded to the author. The editors will receive these comments, but they will be separate from the main report and will be labeled as "confidential." Please note that these comments will be seen by both the Associate Editor and the Corresponding Editor handling this paper.
Getting Help
If you need additional help, you can click on the help signs throughout the system. A help dialog will pop up with context sensitive help. You can also e-mail sicon@siam.org if you need assistance.
A Note on Bookmarks
Many websites suggest you "bookmark" the URL. This is not advised here as you may encounter problems. Instead, use the link provided in one of your e-mails (if you have received one), or type the URL into the address bar in your browser. If you use a bookmark or favorite, the login page will load correctly, but it may not let you into the site. For security reasons, each session on the system is given a different identifier. Using shortcuts like this refers to a redundant identifier from a previous session, so the system does not let you in. (Internet banks use similar tricks to keep their sites secure, which you would expect, as a customer.)
Manuscript Status
To get the status of your assigned manuscript(s):- Log into the system with your password.
- Click on the link represented by the manuscript tracking number and abbreviated title.
- Click on the "Check Status" link at the bottom of the displayed page.
NOTE: Author rights to unpublished manuscripts:
All manuscripts are privileged documents; an author retains the right to the unpublished work. A referee should not use results or ideas obtained exclusively through the refereeing process in his or her own research.