Two Convenient Submission Methods

We offer two streamlined online submission options designed to accommodate your preferences and manuscript complexity. Choose the method that works best for your research submission.

Manuscript Types We Publish

International Journal of Cell welcomes diverse manuscript types that advance our understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms. All submissions undergo rigorous peer review by experts specializing in molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology.

Peer Review Timeline

We are committed to providing transparent, efficient peer review while maintaining the highest standards of scientific rigor. Our editorial team consists of active researchers in molecular biology who understand the importance of timely publication.

What Happens During Peer Review?

Editor Screening (3 days): Your manuscript is evaluated for scope, scientific merit, and adherence to submission guidelines. We check for completeness, appropriate methodology, and relevance to molecular biology. Manuscripts are screened using iThenticate for originality.

Reviewer Selection (within 7 days): We carefully select 2-3 reviewers with expertise in your specific research area-whether that's gene regulation, protein biochemistry, cellular signaling, or omics technologies. Our reviewers are active researchers who understand current methodologies and standards in molecular biology.

Peer Review (21 days): Reviewers evaluate your manuscript for scientific rigor, experimental design, data quality, interpretation, and significance to the field. They provide constructive feedback on methodology, statistical analysis, and conclusions.

Editorial Decision (28 days total): Based on reviewer recommendations, the editor makes one of four decisions: Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, or Reject. You receive detailed reviewer comments and clear guidance for revisions if applicable.

Why Molecular Biologists Choose IJC

Rigorous Peer Review by Molecular Biology Experts

Every manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts with active research programs in molecular biology. Our reviewers are carefully selected based on their expertise in your specific research area-whether that's gene regulation, protein structure-function, cellular signaling, or omics technologies. They evaluate experimental design, methodology rigor, data quality, statistical analysis, and interpretation within the context of current molecular biology knowledge.

Broad Dissemination to Your Target Audience

Your research will reach molecular biologists, biochemists, cell biologists, and related researchers worldwide through indexing in and Google Scholar. Open access ensures your findings are immediately available to researchers in academia, industry, and clinical settings who can build upon your work.

Transparent and Fair Review Process

We believe in transparency throughout the publication process. You'll receive detailed reviewer comments, clear revision guidelines, and direct communication with the handling editor. Our acceptance rate of - reflects our commitment to publishing high-quality molecular biology research while maintaining rigorous standards.

Support for Emerging Research Areas

We actively encourage submissions in emerging areas of molecular biology including single-cell omics, CRISPR-based technologies, synthetic biology, systems biology approaches, and computational molecular biology. Our editorial board includes experts in these cutting-edge fields who can provide informed evaluation of innovative methodologies and novel findings.

Submission Requirements

Manuscript Format

File Format: Microsoft Word (.docx) or LaTeX. PDF files are not accepted for initial submission but may be requested during revision.

Structure: Title page, Abstract (250 words maximum), Keywords (5-8 terms), Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, Acknowledgments, References, Figure Legends, Tables, Figures.

Length: Varies by article type (see above). Word count includes main text only, excluding abstract, references, figure legends, and tables.

Figures and Tables

Figures: Submit as separate files in TIFF or EPS format at 300 DPI minimum resolution. Color figures are encouraged for online publication. Label all axes, include scale bars for microscopy images, and ensure all symbols are clearly defined.

Tables: Create using Word table function or submit as Excel files. Do not submit tables as images. Include descriptive titles and define all abbreviations in table footnotes.

Data Availability

Molecular biology research often generates large datasets that should be made publicly available. We require deposition of:

• Genomics data: Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) or ArrayExpress
• Proteomics data: ProteomeXchange (PRIDE, MassIVE)
• Structural data: Protein Data Bank (PDB)
• Metabolomics data: MetaboLights or Metabolomics Workbench
• Other datasets: Appropriate discipline-specific repositories or institutional repositories

Include accession numbers in your manuscript. Raw data underlying figures and conclusions should be available upon reasonable request.

Ethics and Compliance

Human Subjects: Research involving human participants or human-derived materials must have IRB approval. Include approval number and statement of informed consent in Methods section.

Animal Studies: Must comply with ARRIVE guidelines and have IACUC approval. Include approval number, species, strain, sex, age, and housing conditions in Methods section.

Biosafety: Research involving recombinant DNA, infectious agents, or hazardous materials must comply with institutional biosafety committee requirements.