International Journal of Biotechnology and Computational Science

Publication Ethics

The International Journal of Biotechnology and Computational Science (IJBCS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity in scientific publishing. Our publication ethics policy follows the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability throughout the publishing process.

1. Responsibilities of Authors

  • Originality: Authors must ensure their work is entirely original. Any use of others’ work (text, data, figures) must be properly cited or quoted.

  • Plagiarism: Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable. Manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection tools prior to peer review.

  • Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously is considered unethical.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: All data, financial support, and institutional affiliations must be disclosed.

  • Authorship Criteria: Only individuals who have made a significant contribution to the research and writing process should be listed as authors. All listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence the work.

2. Responsibilities of Editors

  • Fairness and Objectivity: Editorial decisions are made without regard to the authors’ race, gender, religious belief, or institutional affiliation.

  • Confidentiality: Editors must not disclose information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than reviewers and editorial staff.

  • Decision Transparency: Editors must ensure that all decisions are based solely on the paper’s academic merit and relevance to the journal’s scope.

  • Handling Misconduct: Editors are responsible for taking action in cases of suspected ethical misconduct, including retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Confidentiality: All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.

  • Objectivity: Reviews must be conducted objectively and professionally. Personal criticism of authors is inappropriate.

  • Timeliness: Reviewers should respond within the agreed timeframe or inform the editor if unable to review.

  • Disclosure: Reviewers must inform the editor of any potential conflicts of interest or ethical concerns regarding the manuscript.

4. Ethical Oversight

IJBCS requires:

  • Ethical approval for studies involving humans or animals.

  • Informed consent for human participants.

  • Transparency in data availability and research funding.

5. Misconduct and Retraction Policy

IJBCS takes publication misconduct seriously. In cases of:

  • Plagiarism

  • Falsification or fabrication of data

  • Duplicate publication

  • Authorship manipulation

We may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction. Retraction notices will be clearly labeled and remain publicly accessible.

6. Complaints and Appeals

Authors or reviewers may raise complaints regarding the editorial process or appeal decisions by contacting the Editor-in-Chief. All complaints will be handled fairly and promptly in accordance with COPE guidelines.