Yumo Xue, Ph.D., Selected for JAMA Network Peer Review Academy
| Yumo Xue, Ph.D., faculty in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, has been selected to participate in the 2026-2027 JAMA Network Peer Review Academy.
“The JAMA Academy provides the opportunity to develop through training, mentorship, and hands-on reviewing experience with high-impact journals, while learning directly from experienced editors and reviewers,” Xue said.
An assistant professor in the Department of Biostatistics, Xue is excited about the opportunity to build professional connections within the editorial and peer-review community while expanding his knowledge in scientific publishing.
“I want to improve my peer review skills, which will also strengthen my ability to conduct research,” he said. “Being able to critically evaluate the work of others improves how I approach study design, research methods, scientific writing, and the interpretation of findings.”
The review academy connects early-career researchers with JAMA Network editors to learn how to conduct rigorous and thoughtful peer reviews. Researchers also gain insight into the process of editorial decision-making.
“The academy is highly regarded because of the opportunity to apply what we learn to actual manuscripts and receive guidance and feedback from experienced editors and reviewers,” Xue said. “Scholars are not simply learning about peer review in theory; we are putting those principles into practice.”
Taking part in the academy can be a gamechanger on multiple levels, as Xue deemed the opportunity as invaluable and competitive.
“Being selected is encouraging and meaningful to me,” he said. “The selection is motivation to improve and to learn from academy members and experts from around the world.”
“The academy can help me grow as a peer reviewer and as an independent researcher, while also giving me insight into the skills and experience needed to serve as an editor,” he said. “Through the practical experience, I can develop a more systematic approach to evaluating scientific work and providing constructive and useful feedback to authors.”
Xue also hopes to share what he learns from the academy with students at the College of Public Health.
“The training will give me new perspectives that I can bring into teaching, mentoring, manuscript development, and collaborative research,” he said. “I hope to incorporate some of the training into my courses or workshops, helping the students become more familiar with the research and peer-review process.”