Dr. Pinar Erkekoglu has completed her Ph.D thesis in Hacettepe University in Ankara Turkey. She has worked as a researcher in Universite Joseph Fourier and CEA/INAC/LAN in France. She is working as researcher Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and also as faculty staff in Hacettepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology. She has published more than 40 papers in both English and Turkish in reputed journals.

Dr. Pinar's research focuses on on toxicology studies, male reproductive disorders.

1. What makes an article top quality? 

Response: The study design and the subject. 

2. Do you think that journals determine research trends?

Response: Yes. 

3. What makes a good position paper?

Response: The trends and citations. 

4. What are the qualities you look for in an article?

Response: It must be well-written, well-designed and the subject should be interesting. 

5.Can you give us a broad indication of the types of themes a scientific journal should cover?

Response: I mainly think that scientific journals should cover spesific topics and indicate those topics in their web page under "Aims and Scope". However, every scientist from different research fields could be able submit a paper in the indicated fields. Mainly, medical journals should cover issues on new findings and innovations. 

6.What sorts of research methods and frameworks do you expect people to use, and how will they balance conceptual and applied research?

Response: I do not think most of the papers are well-designed so the authors should first know what they are researching and why they are doing this research. Research methods nowadays only cover trendy topics; however there are really serious subjects the authors should consider. 

7.How would you describe the journal’s mission and editorial objectives to our readers?

Response: JLDT covers all issues in the field of hepatology and it would accept research from all fields concerning liver health and disease. 

8. If you could be granted dream articles, what would they be on?

Response: They would be on mechanistical research on cancer. 

9. Are there any particular areas which you would like to see, or expect to see, collaborate?

Response: I would like to collaborate on research on the effects of toxic chemicals tol iver and their mechanisms underlying their toxicity. Besides, I would like to make colloborations on liver cancer. 

10.How does the research published percolate through to practitioners?

Response: Mainly by publishing the short results in the web page under the abstract section. Besides, a "What is known, what is new" part can be asked from the authors while submitting the manuscript. 

11. How does the research published percolate through to practitioners?

Response: By sending the papers to reviewers who are expert in their fields. 

12. How can a publisher ensure the authors/readers a rigorous peer review and quality control?

Response: I think this would enable more submissions and give opportunity to editors to chose the best papers for publishing. 

13. What do you see as the merits of journals, as opposed to book series, as a means of scholarly communications?

Response: The publishers are publishing books for money these days. I do not think it is ethical and suitable to publish a book for researchers who are not expert in their own fields. Therefore, other than publishing Open Access, journals should not consider publishing articles for money and this would be virtuous.  

14. How do you differentiate of Journal of Liver: Disease & Transplantation (JLDT) with other journals in the field?

Response: When I submitted my own paper and received a revision from the editor, the e-mail was very kind and supportive. Besides, the reviewers were very kind. Therefore, JLDT must continue such supportive and kind responding to the authors.