The Inaugural Junior Editorial Board-lessons Learned and the Path Forward Toward Improving the Peer Review Process

The inaugural Junior Editorial Board (JEB) of consisted of 64 early-career researchers active from 2022 to 2023. The goal of the JEB was to train early-career researchers in the art of peer review under the guidance of experienced editors. JEB members gained hands-on experience in peer review by participating in modules detailing the publishing process through the lenses of the journal, editor, and reviewer. Ultimately, JEB members applied this new knowledge by reviewing manuscripts. Here, we summarize the background, the mission, and the achievements of the first JEB. We also include possible trajectories for the future editions of this important program.