Instruction for Authors

Welcome to JSTECEP. We are dedicated to providing a platform for college students, emerging researchers, and innovators to share their findings in the fields of Engineering, Chemistry, and Environmental Science.

Note: All articles will be submitted to Google Scholar, Crossref, U.S. Librarian Database, ProQuest(part of Clarivate’s Web of Science), Ulrich's Periodicals Directory, SEMANTIC SCHOLAR, OpenAlex.

1. Aims and Scope

We accept original research papers, review articles, and case studies in the following areas:

  • Engineering: Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Chemical, and Software Engineering.
  • Chemistry: Organic, Inorganic, Analytical, Physical, and Biochemistry.
  • Environmental Protection: Sustainability, Waste Management, Pollution Control, and Green Technology.

2. Manuscript Preparation

Formatting Requirements

  • File Format: Microsoft Word (.docx).
  • Font: 12-point Times New Roman.
  • Spacing: Double-spaced with 1-inch margins.
  • Style Guide: Use the APA (American Psychological Association) 7th Edition for citations and references.
  • Length: Generally 3,000 words, including references and tables.

Required Structure

  1. Title Page: Includes the title, author name(s), affiliation (e.g., your University), and a contact email.
  2. Abstract: A concise summary (150–250 words) of the research question, methodology, results, and conclusion.
  3. Keywords: 3–5 keywords for database indexing.
  4. Introduction: Define the problem and state your hypothesis or objective.
  5. Literature Review: Contextualize your work within existing academic research.
  6. Methodology: Describe your data sources and analytical techniques.
  7. Results & Discussion: Present findings clearly and explain their significance.
  8. Conclusion: Summarize contributions and suggest areas for future research.

3. Submission Checklist

Authors should use this before hitting "send" to ensure their manuscript isn't rejected for technical reasons.

  • Cover Letter: Brief introduction explaining why the research fits JIHCS.
  • Anonymization: For double-blind review, ensure no author names or affiliations appear in the main manuscript file.
  • Title Page: A separate file containing the title, author names, and affiliations.
  • Abstract: 150–250 words that summarize the study.
  • Keywords: 3–5 terms for indexing.
  • Formatting: Times New Roman, 12pt, double-spaced, 1-inch margins.
  • References: All citations follow APA 7th Edition.
  • Declarations: Statement that the work is original and any AI usage is disclosed.

4. APA 7th Edition

Core Formatting Rules

APA 7th is designed for clarity. If your authors follow these basics, their papers will be consistent:

  • Font: You have choices! Common ones include 12pt Times New Roman, 11pt Calibri, or 11pt Arial.
  • Spacing: The entire paper must be double-spaced, including the reference list.
  • Margins: 1-inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
  • Paragraphs: The first line of every paragraph should be indented 0.5 inches.

In-Text Citations (The Author-Date System)

Whenever an author quotes or paraphrases a source, they must cite it in the text.

  • One Author: (Smith, 2023)
  • Two Authors: (Smith & Jones, 2023)
  • Three or More Authors: APA 7th simplifies this. You always use "et al." from the first citation: (Smith et al., 2023).

The Reference List

This is the alphabetical list at the end of the paper. Here is how common sources should look:

Journal Article (Most common for your journal)

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume(Issue), Page Range. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx

Book

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book. Publisher.

Note: In the 7th edition, you no longer include the city/state of the publisher.

Webpage

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL

5. The Peer Review Process

Every article submitted to JSTECEP undergoes a rigorous peer-review process to maintain high academic standards. Below is a visual overview of how your submission moves through our system:

Shutterstock

  1. Initial Screening: Editors check for scope and formatting.
  2. Review: Two independent reviewers evaluate the quality, originality, and methodology.
  3. Decision: Authors will receive one of four outcomes:
    • Accept as is.
    • Minor Revisions (small changes required).
    • Major Revisions (significant rework needed).
    • Reject.

6. Ethical Standards

  • Originality: Manuscripts must be the author’s original work and cannot be under consideration elsewhere.
  • Plagiarism: JSTECEP uses software to detect plagiarism. Any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate rejection.
  • AI Disclosure: If AI tools were used for data analysis or drafting, this must be explicitly stated in the "Acknowledgments" section.

7. How to Submit

Please send your manuscript and a brief cover letter to JSTECEP@deanfrancis.press. Ensure your cover letter states why your work is a good fit for our readers.