The Podcast

When Peer Review Feels Personal


Dear Solutions Lab,

I had a paper rejected last week with reviewer comments that felt personal rather than scientific — one reviewer questioned whether I understood my own field. I know everyone says to ignore it but I can’t stop thinking about it. What worries me more is that I suggested the people who they should approach to review the paper… so the the reviewer may actually be something I thought was good and who I respect (or used to anyway).

How do other people actually move on from this kind of thing?