Experience Sharing Talk Title: Understanding the IEEE Journal Peer-Review Process – A Detailed Walkthrough

This talk provides an in-depth exploration of the peer-reviewing process in IEEE journals, starting from the manuscript submission to the final decision communication, with each crucial step being outlined and explained. Beginning with the essentials for preparing a paper for submission to an IEEE journal, the common causes of immediate rejection by the Journal administrator are revealed through a detailed examination of the checklist. Further, the roles of the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) and the Associate Editor (AE) are dissected. Particular attention is given to the tools used for selecting and assigning reviewers, including insights into the major reviewer databases employed by IEEE journals. The talk then covers how an Associate Editor formulates recommendations and the way the Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision. Lastly, the seminar discusses the next steps following the decision, detailing what authors should do based on the decision communicated. The seminar will conclude with a Q&A segment addressing common questions and providing answers to further clarify the IEEE peer-review process.

Presenters’  Information

Fei Gao, University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard, France

Prof. Fei Gao is currently the Deputy Director of the French CNRS research institute FEMTO-ST (750 researchers) and a Full Professor at the School of Energy and Computer science of the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbeliard (UTBM). He received from UTBM the PhD degree in renewable energy with distinguished Youth Doctor Award in 2010. His main research fields include hydrogen fuel cells for transportation and digital twin technology for modern power electronics and energy systems. Prof. Gao is a Fellow of IEEE and IET. He is the recipient of 2020 “IEEE J. David Irwin Early Career Award” from IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, 2022 “Leon-Nicolas Brillouin Award” from SEE France, and 2022 industrial “Sustainable Future Visionary Award” from Typhoon HIL. Prof. Gao is a Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE Industry Applications Society. He is the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Industrial Electronics Technology News, and the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification. He currently serves as the Technical Activities Committee Chair of IEEE Transportation Electrification Community, the Vice-Chair of the Technical Committee on Electrified Transportation Systems of IEEE Power Electronics Society and the Secretary of Industrial Automation and Control Committee of IEEE Industry Application Society.