IJMS Submission Process
International Journal of Molecular Sciences's submission process, first-decision timing, and the editorial checks that matter before peer review begins.
Senior Researcher, Oncology & Cell Biology
Author context
Specializes in manuscript preparation and peer review strategy for oncology and cell biology, with deep experience evaluating submissions to Nature Medicine, JCO, Cancer Cell, and Cell-family journals.
Readiness scan
Before you submit to International Journal of Molecular Sciences, pressure-test the manuscript.
Run the Free Readiness Scan to catch the issues most likely to stop the paper before peer review.
How to approach International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Use the submission guide like a working checklist. The goal is to make fit, package completeness, and cover-letter framing obvious before you open the portal.
Stage | What to check |
|---|---|
1. Scope | Prepare comprehensive molecular research report |
2. Package | Submit via MDPI Editorial Manager |
3. Cover letter | Initial editorial assessment |
4. Final check | Peer review |
Decision cue: The IJMS submission process is faster than most journals. First decisions arrive in roughly 18 to 20 days. But "fast" does not mean "casual." MDPI journals move quickly because the editorial workflow is structured tightly, and papers with obvious gaps get returned just as fast.
Quick answer
IJMS uses the MDPI Submission System (susy.mdpi.com). After upload, an academic editor is assigned and decides whether to send the paper for peer review. Papers that pass editorial screening go to 2 to 3 reviewers. The median first decision is about 18 days from submission.
IJMS has no word limit, but the APC is CHF 2,900. Special issue submissions follow the same process but may have guest editors handling triage.
Stage | What happens | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
Upload via MDPI system | Manuscript enters the system, confirmation sent | Same day |
Editorial office check | Staff verify completeness, formatting, scope | 1 to 3 days |
Academic editor assignment | Editor assesses whether paper warrants review | 3 to 5 days |
Peer review | 2 to 3 reviewers evaluate | 10 to 14 days (fast turnaround expected) |
Decision | Accept, minor revisions, major revisions, or reject | ~18 days median from submission |
Revision | Authors revise and resubmit | 5 to 10 days for minor, 15 to 20 days for major |
Production | Copyediting, proofs, publication | 3 to 5 days after acceptance |
Before you open the MDPI portal
The submission system is at susy.mdpi.com. Register using the email address you want associated with the manuscript.
Confirm these are ready:
- manuscript prepared using the MDPI Word or LaTeX template
- all figures and tables embedded in the manuscript or uploaded separately
- supplementary materials as separate files
- data availability statement (required)
- author contributions statement using CRediT taxonomy
- funding information with specific grant numbers
- conflicts of interest declaration
- ethics statements (IRB approval, informed consent) if applicable
- ORCID for all authors (strongly encouraged)
Regular submission vs special issue
IJMS runs hundreds of active special issues at any time. If you were invited to submit to a special issue, select that issue during submission. The process is the same, but a guest editor may handle the initial triage instead of a regular academic editor.
Special issue invitations do not guarantee acceptance. The review process and standards are the same as for regular submissions.
Step-by-step submission flow
1. Log in and start new submission
Go to susy.mdpi.com, log in, and click "Submit New Manuscript." Select International Journal of Molecular Sciences. If submitting to a special issue, select the specific issue from the dropdown.
2. Select article type
Choose from: Article (original research), Review, Communication (short report), Brief Report, or other types. Article is the most common. There is no word limit for any type, but conciseness is expected.
3. Enter metadata
Provide the title, abstract, and keywords. Add all authors with ORCID identifiers and affiliations. Specify CRediT author contributions (conceptualization, methodology, investigation, writing, etc.) for each author.
4. Upload manuscript files
Upload the manuscript file (Word or LaTeX). The total upload size cannot exceed 120 MB across all files. Figures should be high resolution (minimum 300 DPI for raster images). Supplementary files go as separate uploads.
5. Complete the data availability statement
MDPI requires a data availability statement. Options include: data in public repository (with DOI), data in supplementary material, data available on request, or no new data created. Be specific. Vague statements are flagged during editorial screening.
6. Declarations
Complete the conflicts of interest, funding, and ethics declarations. All funding sources need specific grant numbers. If no funding, state it explicitly. IRB approval numbers are required for any human subjects research.
7. Suggest reviewers
You can suggest reviewers and exclude specific people. MDPI's system uses these suggestions alongside its own reviewer database. Good suggestions speed up the process.
8. Preview and submit
Review the compiled manuscript. Check figure quality, reference formatting, and supplementary file accessibility. Submit.
What happens during editorial screening
After the editorial office confirms completeness (1 to 3 days), an academic editor is assigned. The academic editor is a working scientist in a relevant field, not an MDPI staff member.
The academic editor checks:
- does the manuscript fit IJMS scope (molecular sciences, broadly)?
- is the methodology sound enough to justify review?
- are the claims proportional to the evidence?
- is the manuscript complete enough to send to reviewers without requesting missing basics?
Papers that clearly fall outside scope or have obvious methodological problems are returned at this stage. This is less common at IJMS than at highly selective journals, but it does happen.
What happens during peer review
IJMS sends papers to 2 to 3 reviewers. Reviewers are asked to return reports within 10 days, which is faster than most journals. This aggressive timeline is part of why MDPI's median first decision is under 20 days.
Reviewers evaluate:
- scientific soundness and experimental rigor
- whether methods are described in enough detail for reproduction
- whether conclusions are supported by the data
- clarity and organization of the manuscript
- adequacy of the literature review
Understanding the decision
- Accept: the paper is ready for publication with minimal changes.
- Accept after minor revision: small changes needed (usually 5 to 10 days to revise). Changes are often verified by the academic editor without returning to reviewers.
- Major revision: substantive concerns. Typically 15 to 20 days to revise. Usually returns to the same reviewers.
- Reject and resubmit: the current version is not publishable, but a substantially revised version could be reconsidered as a new submission.
- Reject: the paper does not meet the journal's standards.
Multiple revision rounds are possible. Most papers go through 1 to 2 rounds before a final decision.
Common process issues
Slow reviewer turnaround despite MDPI's fast expectations
MDPI asks reviewers to respond in 10 days, but not all reviewers meet this timeline. If the process seems stalled beyond 3 weeks, you can contact the editorial office through the submission system.
Special issue deadline pressure
Special issues often have submission deadlines. If you are close to the deadline, submit what is ready. It is better to submit on time and revise than to miss the window. But do not submit an incomplete manuscript just to meet a deadline.
Unclear scope fit
IJMS covers molecular sciences broadly, but "molecular" is the operative word. A purely clinical study, a purely engineering paper, or a study without molecular-level investigation may be returned for scope mismatch.
Formatting rejected after acceptance
MDPI production is strict about template compliance. If the final manuscript does not match the template, production will send it back for reformatting. Use the MDPI template from the start to avoid this delay.
How IJMS compares to nearby alternatives
Feature | IJMS | Scientific Reports | Frontiers series | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Publisher | MDPI | PLOS | Nature Portfolio | Frontiers |
Review model | Soundness + relevance | Soundness only | Soundness | Soundness + relevance |
APC | CHF 2,900 | $1,895 | $2,190 | ~$2,950 |
Review speed | ~18 days median | 35 to 45 days | ~120 days | ~70 days |
Acceptance rate | High (MDPI does not publish) | ~31% | ~57% | Varies by section |
Best for | Molecular-level studies, fast turnaround | Broad, methods-focused work | Broad, Nature branding | Community-driven fields |
Choose when | Speed matters and the work has molecular focus | Data sharing is central | Nature portfolio matters | Active community in specific Frontiers section |
Submit if
- the manuscript reports molecular-level research with clear methods and reproducible results
- the data availability statement is concrete
- the manuscript is formatted with the MDPI template
- the conclusions stay within what the data support
- you need a fast decision (under 3 weeks is realistic)
Think twice if
- the study has no molecular-level component (purely clinical, purely engineering)
- the APC (CHF 2,900) is a constraint and no waiver is available
- the manuscript was written for a field-specific journal and needs reframing
- the main goal is prestige signaling (IJMS is respected but not highly selective)
- the special issue invitation feels like spam rather than a genuine editorial request
Before you submit, check your readiness score with a free scan. It takes about 60 seconds and evaluates methodology, citations, and journal fit.
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