Make connections
Expand your professional network and get advice from some of the most experienced researchers in your field
Research Topics
Frontiers’ Research Topics are open, collaborative article collections focused on an emerging research theme.
Defined and led by expert researchers, they bring together communities to write, review, and publish new research around a shared interest – sparking conversation and stimulating future collaboration.
How do Research Topics work?
Each topic is led – from defining the scope to final publication - by a team of topic editors, often with support from topic coordinators.
They invite other researchers to join the community by contributing their research as authors. As well as these invited submissions, all researchers are welcome to submit their paper to any open topic, as long as it fits within the scope.
All submitted manuscripts go through the same rigorous peer review as any other Frontiers' article
. The topic editor oversees peer review, ensuring only the highest quality research is published.
Topics have an open and closed date, both of which are flexible. While the topic is open, each article is published as soon as it is accepted.
Research Topics are published as magazine-style websites (once they have six or more articles) and can be released as a free ebook (for 10 or more articles).
What are the benefits of Research Topics?
Whatever stage you're at in your career, participating in a Research Topic is a valuable experience. Whether you're looking for new connections and new opportunities by joining an open Research Topic, or to make a lasting difference in your field by leading your own topic, there are many reasons to get involved.
How can publishing in Research Topics help you?
Gain visibility
Have your article published alongside others on the same theme, maximizing its chances of being read and cited
Feel supported
Our dedicated team is on hand to support, and our constructive peer review process helps you make the most of your paper
How can leading or editing a Research Topic help you
Develop the next generation
Mentor the rising star researchers in your community and identify potential new projects
Stay up to date
Reviewing papers from fellow experts deepens your knowledge of the latest advancements
Spark conversations
Boost visibility by bringing the important topics in your field to the attention of the scientific community and beyond
What is it like to lead a Research Topic?
Research Topics give you a way to lead conversations and make a difference in your field.
With our support you’ll propose and develop a topic, then bring together a community of experts to review and publish articles. You’ll take editorial control, from defining the scope of your topic and choosing a team of co-editors, to overseeing peer review so only the best quality research is published.
You set the timeline for your collection, and we'll work with you at your pace.
As a topic editor, you’ll be able to:
lead, nurture, and guide a newly emerging research community
stay up to date and deepen your knowledge of the latest advancements
increase the visibility and readership of important work in your field with the possibility of a free to share ebook
To be a topic editor, you will need:
a PhD or MD degree
at least three years of postdoctoral experience
a significant and relevant publication record
previous editorial experience.
More support
Managing a Research Topic is simple with our user-friendly platform, innovative AI tools, and professional support team. We'll support you through every step of the process, from defining your topic and inviting contributors to promoting your topic and tracking impact.
Frontiers’ Research Topics give you a way to collaborate with experts on a research theme you care about.
You’ll join a community of pioneering researchers across different disciplines, providing a range of perspectives on the same topic. Your work will be published in a high-quality open access collection alongside other experts, increasing its visibility.
By publishing in a Research Topic you’ll benefit from:
getting expert advice on your work from experienced researchers in your field
rapid, open publication for your article as soon as it is accepted
retaining copyright for your article via a CC-BY license
accessing article level metrics to track your article’s impact
building your network and finding opportunities for future projects.