Reviewer Recognition and Rewards Program

Reviewers serve a vital role for OSA’s editors and the authors who submit to OSA’s journals. Our reviewers’ efforts and dedication allow us to bring high-quality research to the optics and photonics community. We are committed to ensuring that our reviewers are recognized and rewarded for the valuable contributions they bring to the growing body of scientific literature.

OSA’s comprehensive Reviewer Recognition Program acknowledges the countless hours served in reviewing more than 20,000 submissions annually to our journals. The primary appreciation efforts offered in the Reviewer Recognition Program and eligibility are outlined in the table below.

The Reviewer Rewards Program is a new initiative launching simultaneously with this new section for Reviewers on our website. All OSA reviewers now accumulate points for providing useful reviews and when becoming certified, and they will be able to redeem their points for special rewards. Read more about Reviewer Rewards below.

*Currently not applicable to the Student or Early Career categories.

OSA Senior Publisher, Kelly Cohen, with Outstanding Reviewer recipient, Prof. Alexander Kildishev

Reviewer Rewards

The Reviewer Rewards Program is the beginning of a wider OSA initiative to recognize volunteers for their support of OSA’s activities. OSA reviewers will earn points for reviews that are completed within the Prism peer review system, beginning July 2019. The OSA editor will assign up to 6 points for a review based on its degree of usefulness. Reviewers who provide detailed, constructive, tactful feedback in a timely manner will earn points more quickly than those who submit brief, vague, inappropriate statements. Reviewers will also have an opportunity to earn points upon completion of the new Reviewer Certification Course. Please refer to OSA’s new Reviewer Certification Course for tips on providing an effective review.

Reviewers will accumulate points over a rolling 3-year period. Once a reviewer accumulates 50 points, he/she can redeem them for a free 1-year Individual OSA Membership, a 33% discount on a 3-year Individual OSA membership, or for a $200 discount on the Article Processing Charge (APC) or Optional Open Access fee to the OSA-owned journal of choice. Currently membership discounts are not applicable to the Student or Early Career categories.

See Reviewer Rewards Program Rules.