Late last year, Essential Science Indicators
from
Thomson
Reuters named the Journal of Chemical Theory
and Computation (JCTC) a
Rising Star in the field of Chemistry for the
period of April to June 2008. The journal's current
citation record includes 743 papers cited a total of
4,965 times from its inauguration in 2005 to February
28, 2009.
JCTC is one of the many journals published by the
American Chemical Society. The journal's aim is
"Reporting new theories, methodology, and/or important
applications in quantum chemistry, molecular dynamics,
and statistical mechanics." The co-editors of JCTC
are Prof. William Jorgensen of Yale University and
Prof. Gustavo Scuseria of Rice University.
In the interview below,
ScienceWatch.com talks with Professors Jorgensen and
Scuseria, as well as Sarah Tegen, the Assistant Director for
Editorial Development, about the journal's history and citation
record.
Did you expect the Journal of Chemical Theory
and Computation to become highly cited, or is this surprising to
you?
JCTC is one of more than 30 journals published by the American
Chemical Society, many of which are leaders in their respective
disciplines. We have high expectations for all of our journals, so the only
surprising aspect for JCTC is that it has become such a highly
cited journal after only four years of publication. JCTC filled a
niche in our portfolio; theory and computation was found in many journals
(and still is) but there was no dedicated home for these articles.
How would you account for the high citation rate of
JCTC?
The editorial team for JCTC strives to publish the best articles
submitted to the journal. Of course, the high citation rate is also because
our authors submit high-quality research articles to the journal, and our
network of peer-reviewers helps further improve the submitted papers.
Additionally, having a journal exclusively dedicated to theoretical and
computational chemistry has helped broadened the audience and the impact of
this field.
JCTC was launched in 2005 as a bimonthly publication with Prof. William
Jorgensen (Yale University) as the editor. One-hundred and thirty-three
articles were published in the inaugural volume. In 2008, the journal
expanded to 12 issues per year, published 219 articles, and added Prof.
Ursula Rothlisberger (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) as an
associate editor. 2009 saw a further expansion of the editorial team, with
Prof. Gustavo Scuseria (Rice University) coming on board as co-editor with
Prof. Jorgensen. Prof. Jorgensen and Prof. Scuseria are both ISIHighlyCited
researchers.
What historical factors have contributed to the
success of JCTC?
JCTC is a young journal, so its history is brief. However, success
can be attributed to its focus on publishing the most appropriate articles,
through the enforcement of high editorial standards, rapid processing
times, and cultivation of a distinguished advisory board.
Have there been specific developments in the
fields served by JCTC that may have contributed?
In addition to the excellent articles submitted by authors, computational
and theoretical chemistry are growing areas of chemistry. We have also
observed that thematic and special issues are very popular with our
readership. By maintaining selectivity in a growing field, we help ensure
the success of JCTC.
What, in your view, is this journal's main significance
or contribution in the field of Chemistry?
JCTC has been clearly welcomed by the theoretical and
computational chemistry community. It serves as a natural home for those
authors publishing work related to biomolecular systems, condensed phase
theory, dynamics, electronic structure, and quantum chemistry, among
others.
How do you see your field(s) evolving in the next few
years?
Theory and computation is bound to have a large impact on science going
forward. Faster computers, better algorithms, and more accurate methods
will all contribute to the continuing partnership between theory and
experiment.
What role do you see for your journal?
We foresee JCTC continuing down the path of publishing the best
material in computational and theoretical chemistry. The continued focus
will be on quality, not quantity, of articles. We expect JCTC will
be a leader in the publication of existing and emerging fields in the
always-evolving theory and computation landscape.
Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation
William Jorgensen, Ph.D., co-Editor
Gustavo Scuseria, Ph.D., co-Editor
Sarah Tegen, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Editorial Development
American Chemical Society, publishers
Journal of Chemical Theory
and Computation's current most-cited paper in
Essential Science
Indicators, with 186
cites:
Zhao Y, Schultz NE, Truhlar DG, "Design of density functionals
by combining the method of constraint satisfaction with
parametrization for thermochemistry, thermochemical kinetics,
and noncovalent interactions," J. Chem. Theory Comput.
2(2): 364-82, March-April 2006. Source:
Essential Science Indicators from
Thomson
Reuters.