BLC NextGen Reviewer Mentorship Program:

Call for Applications

 

Overview

The Bilingualism: Language and Cognition (BLC) NextGen Reviewer Mentorship Program is a selective, mentored reviewer-development initiative designed to train the next generation of high-quality manuscript reviewers in bilingualism and related fields. The program aims to enhance comprehension of the manuscript review process, foster excellence in scholarly peer review, and develop a strong and diverse pool of future reviewers and editorial board members for the journal.

Each cohort (8-12 participants) will participate in the program for two years (June 2026–May 2028). Participants who successfully complete the program may be invited to serve as ad hoc reviewers and, potentially, as members of the BLC Editorial Board.

Eligibility

Applicants should meet one of the following criteria at the time of application: 

• Advanced doctoral students in the last two years of their PhD program
• Post-doctoral researchers
• Faculty members with research responsibilities in the first three years following the completion of their PhD

Applicants should have: 

• Demonstrated research engagement in linguistics, psycholinguistic, neurolinguistics and cognitive approaches to bilingualism or closely related areas relevant to BLC
• At least one peer-reviewed publication in a well-established scholarly journal
• A clear interest in developing expertise in scholarly manuscript review

Application materials: Due 15 April 2026

Applicants must be nominated by a senior scholar who is familiar with their research, scholarly training, and professional judgment. For doctoral students, the nominator should be the PhD advisor. Nomination letters should be evaluative rather than purely supportive and should be submitted directly by the nominator.

Nomination letter requirements 

• Length: approximately 1 page
• Format: PDF, on institutional letterhead
• Content should address:

• The nominator’s relationship to the applicant
• The applicant’s research background and area(s) of expertise
• The applicant’s readiness to engage in manuscript review (e.g., analytical skills, professionalism, attention to detail)
• The applicant’s potential to provide rigorous, constructive feedback that enhances the quality of manuscripts submitted to BLC

Nomination letters should be submitted using this form.

Additional materials (submitted by the applicant)

• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of interest: Max. 1,000 words; addressing:

• Motivation for applying to the BLC NextGen Reviewer Mentorship Program
• Relevant research expertise and methodological background
• Career stage and professional goals
• Interest in editorial service and manuscript review

The applicant’s CV and letter of interest should be submitted this form.

Selection criteria

Applications will be evaluated by the Associate Editor Mentor and Co-Editors-in-Chief using the following criteria:

• Eligibility and career stage appropriateness
• Scholarly alignment with the scope of BLC
• Evidence of research maturity and analytical rigor
• Demonstrated readiness to engage in scholarly manuscript review
• Potential to provide rigorous, constructive feedback that enhances the quality of manuscripts submitted to BLC
• Breadth of methodological and research area expertise among the cohort 

Review training and mentorship structure

Selected participants will:

• Complete 4-6 reviews of BLC manuscripts over a period of 2 years
• Receive structured feedback on the quality of their reviews from a designated Associate Editor Mentor
• Participate in periodic cohort-level discussions or workshops on best practices in manuscript review.

Successful completion of the program will be determined by the timely completion of high-quality reviews, responsiveness to feedback and incorporation of that feedback into reviews, and demonstrated growth in review quality over the two-year period. Participants who fulfil these criteria will receive a certificate upon completion of the program.

Timeline

• Application Deadline: 15 April 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: 15 May 2026
• Program Start: 1 June 2026

Contact information

Questions about the BLC NextGen Reviewer Mentorship Program or application process may be directed to the program's Associate Editor: Dr. Stephen Politzer-Ahles at sjpa@ku.edu.