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OJS for EveryoneThe Practical GuidebookRSYN Research LLP

Tutorial: WoS Reviewer Locator Setup

Role: Journal Manager / Editor
Time: 20–30 minutes
OJS Version: 3.5+

The Web of Science Reviewer Locator (by Clarivate) is an AI-powered service that suggests qualified peer reviewers based on a manuscript's title, abstract, and keywords. This tutorial explains how to integrate or use the service alongside OJS.

Before You Start​

  • You have a Clarivate / Web of Science account with Reviewer Locator access.
  • Reviewer Locator is available as part of Clarivate's Journal Author Connect product suite. Contact clarivate.com for access.
  • Reviewer Locator does not have a native OJS plugin — integration is done manually or via API.

Option A — Manual Use (No OJS Plugin Required)​

For editors who want to use Reviewer Locator alongside OJS without technical integration:

Step 1 — Log in to Reviewer Locator​

  1. Go to Clarivate Reviewer Locator.
  2. Sign in with your Clarivate credentials.

Step 2 — Search for Reviewers​

  1. Paste the manuscript title and abstract into the search form.
  2. Add relevant keywords from the submission.
  3. Click Find Reviewers.
  4. Review the suggested candidates — results include publication history, h-index, and WoS affiliation.

Step 3 — Invite Reviewers in OJS​

  1. Copy the name and email of selected reviewers from Reviewer Locator.
  2. In OJS, open the submission and go to the Review stage.
  3. Click Add Reviewer → Search and Select a Reviewer.
  4. If the reviewer is not yet in OJS:
    • Click Create New Reviewer and enter their details.
  5. Send the review invitation.

Option B — API Integration (Advanced)​

Clarivate offers a Reviewer Locator API for publishers who want programmatic access.

Step 1 — Obtain API Access​

  1. Contact Clarivate at clarivate.com/contact to request API credentials.
  2. Receive your API Key and review the API documentation.

Step 2 — Connect via OJS Plugin or Custom Script​

There is no official OJS plugin for Reviewer Locator API at this time. You can:

  • Develop a custom OJS plugin that calls the Reviewer Locator API from the editorial review stage.
  • Use a browser bookmarklet that opens Reviewer Locator pre-populated with the submission abstract.

Best Practices for Reviewer Selection​

  • Use Reviewer Locator as a starting point, not the sole source of reviewers.
  • Cross-check suggested reviewers for conflicts of interest with the authors.
  • Diversify the reviewer pool across institutions and geographies.
  • Maintain a reviewer database in OJS to track invitation history.

Troubleshooting​

ProblemSolution
No reviewers returnedTry simpler keywords; very niche topics may have few indexed experts
Reviewer Locator login failsContact Clarivate support; check your institutional subscription is active
API returns 403Verify your API key and that your IP is whitelisted

Next Steps​