title: On the pitfalls of peer review.
abstract: The review process of academic, scientific research and its basic tenets is considered, thereby distinguishing between (i) reviewing of manuscripts to be published in the scientific literature, (ii) reviewing of research proposals to be financed by funding agencies, (iii) reviewing of educational or research institutions with respect to their proper functioning, and (iv) reviewing of scientists with the aim of appointing or tenuring faculty.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zürich, CH-8093, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Wilfred
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Gunsteren
keywords: editorial process; faculty appointment; faculty tenure; institutional review; peers; performance indicators; research manuscripts; research proposals