===== 🧭 Frontiers in Endocrinology =====

**Frontiers in Endocrinology** is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal launched in 2010 as part of the Frontiers Media platform. It publishes work in molecular, clinical, translational, and systems endocrinology, organized into 20+ specialty sections.

==== 📊 Indexing and Metrics ====
  * Indexed in: [[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/|PubMed/MEDLINE]], [[https://www.scopus.com/|Scopus]], Web of Science, DOAJ
  * **Impact Factor (2024):** ≈ 4.39  
  * **CiteScore (Scopus):** ≈ 6.1  
  * **SJR (2024):** 1.472  
  * **Google Scholar h-index:** ~83

==== ✅ Strengths ====
  * Mid-tier reputable journal with high visibility and citations.
  * Fully open-access, improving dissemination.
  * Transparent review: reviewers are named upon publication.
  * Active editorial engagement across specialty sections.

==== ⚠️ Limitations and Criticisms ====
  * Associated with Frontiers Media, which has drawn criticism for:
    - **High publication volume** and rapid processing.
    - **Previous listing** in Beall’s (now defunct) list of predatory publishers (2015–2017).
    - Internal conflicts in some other Frontiers journals (not this one).
  * Concerns about:
    - **Reviewer recruitment automation**, potential dilution of quality.
    - **Special issue inflation**, guest-edited volumes with variable rigor.

==== 🔍 Peer-Review Model ====
  * **Single-anonymized** and **interactive**: authors see comments; reviewers and editors are named.
  * Review process includes direct discussion between reviewers and editors via a collaborative platform.
  * Average time from submission to acceptance: ~90 days.
  * Authors may appeal decisions through structured editorial channels.

==== 🧭 Reputation and Scientific Standing ====
  * Considered a legitimate, mainstream journal in the field of endocrinology.
  * Rated as "Pro-Science" and "Mostly Factual" by independent watchdogs.
  * No major retraction scandals or misconduct history specific to this journal.

==== 🧠 Final Verdict ====
  * '''Frontiers in Endocrinology''' is a **solid open-access journal** for endocrine research, with competitive metrics and broad reach.
  * While affiliated with a publisher that has been criticized for scale and pace, the journal itself maintains standard scientific integrity.
  * Suitable for well-structured original research, especially if rapid publication and open-access visibility are priorities.

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