In conjunction with these FAQs reviewers may also find it useful to read the step by step guide to completing a review in Je-S (PDF).
1. What is the Je-S system?
Je-S is the UK Research Councils' on-line Joint Electronic Submission system. The system is currently used for completion and submission of research proposals to six Research Councils, including ESRC, and all Research Councils intend to move to using Je-S for Peer Review of proposals.
2. Why is ESRC using the Je-S system for peer review?
ESRC is committed to full participation in the Je-S system, in order to provide a common interface to all Councils for applicants, research organisations, and reviewers. ESRC currently provides for proposal submission, via the Je-S system, and this is now being extended to peer review.
We hope to realise specific advantages for both applicants and reviewers in doing this:
- Applications are no longer posted, which means that confidential proposals are more securely handled since the chosen reviewer receives these direct in their personal Je-S account
- There are no time delays due to postage, particularly for non-UK based reviewers
- The reviewer can view the full proposal, together with any associated documents, before deciding whether he/she wishes to undertake the review
- The system will, in time, be used across the UK Research Councils, so reviewers will no longer have to deal with different systems, processes and forms when reviewing for more than one Council
3. I've never used Je-S before and don't have an account. How do I get one?
If you are an ESRC Peer Review College member, we will have added your details to the Je-S database in order to create an account. When you are notified of your first review request, the email you are sent will include a link that will take you to where you can activate your account. In order to do this, you will need to enter a username and password and some prompts and responses in case you forget your log-in details.
If you are not an ESRC Peer Review College member an account will be created for you prior to a review being requested. You will also be able to activate this account by following the link in the email sent notifying you of the review request.
When your account has been activated, you will be taken to the Assigned Document summary screen in the system where you should select the Peer Review option.
4. When I first tried to access the peer review documents I've been sent, I got to a screen called 'Reviewer Protocols' and couldn't get any further. What is this?
The "Reviewer Protocols" outline the Research Councils' expectations regarding issues such as confidentiality of the material contained in the review documents and conflicts of interest. Reviewers must agree to abide by these protocols before being presented with any review material. Once you have indicated your agreement to these protocols, you will not be asked to do this for further reviews. You will, however, be asked to reaffirm your agreement once a year.
5. I'd like to see the proposal before I decide whether to do the review or not. How can I do this?
You may view the full proposal prior to making a decision about whether to complete the review.
You will need to agree to the Reviewer Protocols prior to accessing the review materials. Once you have done this, you will be presented with the Document Menu screen and you should select 'View Documents to Review' from the Document Data menu.
6. Can I get a printed copy of the review form, so that I can see all the questions I need to answer before I begin making any responses in the system?
It is possible to print a blank copy of the review form.
In the Document Menu screen, you should select 'Create Document for Printing' from the Document Import/Export menu. If you then choose to 'include blank sections' under the print options, you can create a printout of the form that includes all questions.
7. Do I need to answer all the questions on the form?
You need to answer questions in all 'Edit' sections of the form if you are completing the review, or 'Decline to Review' only if you are declining the review request.
There are maximum character limits (including spacing and punctuation) for each question, but no minimum limits. If you are unsure whether you have missed a question or questions, choosing 'Validate Document' at any time will list those which still need to be answered.
Once you have completed the review you must select the 'Submit Document' option in order for ESRC to receive your response(s).
8. What information should I be giving in response to each question on the form? Are any guidance notes available?
Previously, guidance notes were sent in hard copy along with proposals for review. Within Je-S there is context-sensitive Helptext into which we have inserted our guidance notes for completing the form.
If you select Help at the top-right corner of the screen while in any section of the review form, the appropriate guidance will appear. It is important that you take account of the Scheme under which the proposal has been submitted, as there will be scheme-specific guidance in many cases. The Scheme may be found in the banner at the top of each screen.
9. I'm not sure what to do next. Who can I contact for help?
If you need any assistance or advice in your use of the system or experience any problems, you should contact the Je-S Helpdesk. They can be contacted by telephone on 01793 444164 or by email on JeSHelp@rcuk.ac.uk and are available from 9am to 5pm Monday-Friday.
10. I'm not sure that I'm eligible to complete the review. Who can I contact for advice?
If you need advice on your eligibility to carry out the review or have any questions regarding information contained in the proposal or on the review process, you should contact the ESRC officer whose details appear in the 'Instructions to Reviewer' section of the form.
11. I don't want to complete the review that I have been asked for. What should I do?
It would be very helpful if you could tell us that you are unable or unwilling to complete the review as soon as possible, so that we may approach an alternative reviewer.
Ideally, you should do this by selecting 'Decline to Review' under the Document Data menu in the Je-S review form.
It is important, once you have provided the information requested in this section, that you select the 'Decline to Review' button - this is necessary for your response to be forwarded to the ESRC.
12. I have elected to decline the review request and have been asked to suggest an alternative reviewer. Do I need to do this?
This is optional, however, it would be helpful if you could suggest an alternative reviewer. Note: this option is not available to reviewers of Small Grants or PostDoctoral Fellowships Schemes.
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