Field
STEM
Publishing in the STEM Fellowship Journal (SFJ) is an excellent opportunity for high-school and undergraduate researchers whose work demonstrates clarity, analytical depth, and strong scientific communication.
As SFJ emphasises originality, reproducibility, and accessible STEM scholarship, the submission process can feel detailed—but understanding their expectations makes it much easier to prepare a competitive manuscript. This guide breaks everything down simply.
What Kind of Work Can You Submit?
SFJ accepts several student-authored manuscript types across STEM disciplines. These include Original Investigations (≈3,000 words), Review Articles (≈3,000 words), and shorter Viewpoint Articles (≈1,500 words), along with Conference Proceedings abstracts (250 words each, no total limit). Regardless of the category, SFJ expects clear writing, transparent methodology, ethical research practices, reproducible analysis, and appropriate documentation using Vancouver-style referencing.
Eligibility
SFJ is open to high-school and undergraduate authors. All submissions must be original, unpublished, not under review elsewhere, and primarily driven by student researchers. Collaborations with mentors are allowed, but intellectual leadership must come from the student authors, following SFJ’s guidelines on authorship, research integrity, and ethical conduct.
Publication Fee
Accepted manuscripts require a CAD $400 open-access publication fee. Some competitions or programs may be eligible for waivers or discounted rates upon request, so authors should inquire early if needed.
Submission Process
All manuscripts are submitted through the Open Journal Systems (OJS) portal here. Authors must create an account and upload the main manuscript, a separate blinded title page, suggested peer reviewers, and any supplementary materials such as figures, tables, datasets, or appendices. SFJ strongly encourages authors to review their submission checklist beforehand to avoid delays related to formatting or missing components - explore how to prepare your manuscript here.
Review Timeline
SFJ accepts submissions year-round. The journal uses a staged peer-review system beginning with an initial editorial review by a student editor within 2–6 weeks, followed by external peer review. Accepted papers are first posted as preprints on the journal website before being compiled into the biannual formal issues. Review speed depends on reviewer availability and author responsiveness, and submissions that overlook guidelines may experience delays.
RISE Tips for Getting Accepted
Based on strong SFJ submissions reviewed by RISE, competitive papers generally show:
Clear, descriptive titles and abstracts that summarize aims, methods, and key findings
Strong introductions with a well-defined research question and context
Detailed, transparent methods that support full reproducibility
Results presented through well-labeled tables and figures without unnecessary duplication in text
Thoughtful discussions that connect findings to broader literature and acknowledge limitations
Concise, meaningful conclusions highlighting the project’s contribution
Accurate Vancouver-style references using credible, current sources
Precise adherence to SFJ’s formatting and submission requirements
Sample Papers
Find the full list of issues here and the latest issue here to explore what makes a published SFJ article unique.
RISE Research Program
If you’re a high-school student aiming for competitive journals, RISE Research gives you the chance to work one-on-one with mentors from leading universities worldwide. With individualized support for designing rigorous independent research projects, students often produce publication-ready work while strengthening their academic profile. The program is flexible, globally accessible, and open for applications throughout the year. To explore eligibility, pricing, and how to get started, visit the RISE Research website and take the next step in your academic journey!
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