Call for Applications: Language-Sensitive Review (LSR) Pathway Reviewers
SRCD is now accepting applications from Spanish-speaking and Mandarin Chinese-speaking SRCD members interested in serving as Language-Sensitive Reviewers for its new pilot initiative: advancing linguistic equity in developmental science publishing.
Applications are due August 31, 2026.
Deadline for Submissions: August 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST
The Society for Research in Child Development is now accepting applications for Language-Sensitive Reviewers to support the Language-Sensitive Review (LSR) Pathway, a new Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded pilot initiative designed to advance linguistic equity in developmental science publishing.
The LSR Pathway provides optional pre-peer-review feedback for researchers, whose primary working language is Spanish or Mandarin Chinese, submitting English-language manuscripts to Child Development or Child Development Perspectives. Before a manuscript enters formal peer review, it is matched with an SRCD member reviewer fluent in the author’s language who helps ensure the science is not disadvantaged by how the English reads on the page.
Reviewers will receive an honorarium for their service and participation as part of this inaugural cohort. This honorarium opportunity is made possible through grant funding and may not be available in future cohorts. Reviewers are organized across three engagement tiers, from a lighter entry-level commitment to a senior advisory role, based on manuscript complexity and reviewer availability. Honoraria reflect the level of engagement.
All application materials must be submitted through the application portal linked below. Decision notifications will be sent via email within approximately two to three weeks after the application deadline.
For questions, contact Roman McNeil at rmcneil@srcd.org.
About the Role
Language-Sensitive Reviewers serve as language partners for multilingual authors navigating English-language scholarly publishing. Before a manuscript enters formal peer review, they provide structured feedback on clarity, readability, terminology, and places where the English may not fully reflect the author’s intended scientific meaning.
Reviewers may be asked to:
- Identify where phrasing, structure, or terminology may obscure the scientific meaning of the manuscript.
- Flag passages where language may distract from, or make it harder to understand, the author’s scientific contribution.
- Offer suggestions for improving flow, consistency of terminology, and overall readability.
- Note where the original-language version and English-language version appear to diverge in meaning, when an original-language file has been provided.
Language-Sensitive Reviewers do not rewrite manuscripts, evaluate the quality of the science, make substantive edits to the author’s argument, copyedit, or make any recommendation about publication. This role is separate from formal peer review.
Reviewer Engagement Tiers
LSR reviewers serve across three tiers that reflect increasing manuscript complexity and responsibility. The progression moves from identifying language-flow concerns, to helping align the English text with the author’s intended meaning, to handling complex cases and supporting other reviewers. Across all tiers, reviewers focus on clarity and accessibility rather than evaluating the scientific merit of the manuscript. Reviewers receive an honorarium based on the level of engagement.
Tier 1 — Language Flow Review
Reviewers assess the English-language manuscript for clarity, readability, and passages that could be misunderstood. They identify areas needing attention and explain what may be unclear, without rewriting the author’s text. This tier provides a strong entry point for early-career scholars and reviewers newer to language-sensitive review.
Tier 2 — Meaning Alignment Review
Reviewers work with manuscripts where the author’s intended meaning is more difficult to determine from the English text alone. When original-language material is available, reviewers may consult it to help clarify meaning. They may also provide targeted phrasing suggestions when explanation alone would not fully resolve the concern. This is the primary tier for most LSR assignments.
Tier 3 — Complex Review and Pathway Support
Reviewers handle the most complex cases, including manuscripts where meaning is substantially obscured or culturally specific language requires additional care. They may also respond to questions from Tier 1 and Tier 2 reviewers and advise SRCD on the continued development of the pathway. This role provides added support and expertise but does not include editorial decision-making authority.
Who Should Apply
This role is a strong fit for SRCD members who have meaningful fluency in both English and Spanish or Mandarin Chinese, are actively engaged in developmental science, and are comfortable serving in a collegial, mentorship-oriented capacity.
For this role, fluency means being able to read a manuscript in the author’s language with enough comfort and confidence to assess whether the English is conveying the science accurately. Perfect bilingualism is not expected.
SRCD especially welcomes applications from members who have navigated English-language publishing as multilingual scholars themselves or who have informally supported students, colleagues, or collaborators doing so.
Required:
- Active SRCD membership.
- Meaningful fluency in English and Spanish or English and Mandarin Chinese.
- Expertise in developmental science or a closely related field.
- Availability to complete manuscript reviews within the expected turnaround window, consistent with a typical peer review commitment.
Valued:
- Prior experience with peer review, editorial work, or manuscript feedback.
- Experience mentoring or supporting multilingual students, colleagues, or authors.
- Familiarity with bilingual academic writing, language-sensitive feedback, or cross-cultural scholarly communication.
- Applications from varied career stages, methodological backgrounds, and regional areas of expertise.
Reviewer Application Materials
- Curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.
- A statement of interest (500 words or less) addressing:
- Why you are interested in serving as a Language-Sensitive Reviewer and what you would bring to the role.
- Your preferred reviewer tier and why you would be effective at that level.
- Any relevant experience supporting multilingual authors, whether formal or informal.
- A response (300 words or less) describing how you would approach two different language-related challenges in a manuscript, demonstrating your philosophy and approach to Language-Sensitive Review.
- An electronic acknowledgment confirming your understanding of the LSR reviewer role, responsibilities, confidentiality requirements, and pilot expectations.
Application Deadline and Notifications
The deadline to apply is Monday, August 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Decision notifications will be sent within approximately two to three weeks of the application deadline. Selected reviewers will receive onboarding materials before their first assignments begin.
For questions, please contact Roman McNeil, Science and Publications Programs Specialist, at rmcneil@srcd.org.
