Comments on: An arbitrary line in the sand: Rising scientists confront the impact factor

By: Jasper Rine

Jasper Rine — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 23:29:12 +0000

This is a beautifully written description of a problem that is a blight on biomedical research. Another tragic dimension of JIF obsession is the time lost to the young scientists, who do most of the bench work, as they are forced to chase insignificant ephemera, or add another year’s worth of data, to placate silly demands of editors who never developed adequate judgment. Fortunately, WE have the power to solve this problem in short order. But the solution requires all of our efforts.

By: sb

sb — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 05:54:27 +0000

I read articles based on topics of interest first and determine their merit and impact for the field for myself rather than selecting which ones to consider good based on impact factor. I would publish in any journal that publishes other solid papers. But thats not necessarily going to get me a grant so i have to think bigger stories for bigger impact. Which takes longer more experiments that make the story more complicated and much more stress.

By: John Schimenti

John Schimenti — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 02:02:13 +0000

Great piece you two. GENETICS has always been a top tier journal in my opinion.

By: Eustice

Eustice — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 01:34:30 +0000

Basically, if you can’t get published in one of the big three, you have no future in science. But what do these magazines publish? The moat sexy, expensive or outlandish research. It is nothing but the “good old boy” priveledge all over again.