Information For Authors

AUTHOR GUIDELINES

Gomal Journal of Life Sciences (GJLS)
Print ISSN: 3079-0484 | Online ISSN: 3079-0492
Frequency: Bi-Annual (2 Issues per year: June and December)
Publisher: GOMAL EDUCATION NETWORK (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED 

1. SCOPE OF THE JOURNAL

The Gomal Journal of Life Sciences (GJLS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to advancing scientific understanding across all disciplines of life sciences. The journal publishes original research articles, review papers, and short communications that address fundamental biological processes, explore novel methodologies, investigate ecological interactions, or examine the implications of scientific advancements for society and the environment .

The journal welcomes contributions in, but not limited to, the following fields :

  • Biology

  • Biochemistry

  • Biotechnology

  • Genetics

  • Microbiology

  • Ecology

  • Environmental Science

  • Botany

  • Zoology

  • Physiology

  • Pharmacology

  • Toxicology

2. SUBMISSION PREPARATION CHECKLIST

Before submitting your manuscript, authors are requested to ensure the following materials and requirements are ready:

  • Manuscript file (in MS Word format) prepared according to these guidelines.

  • Cover letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief.

  • Title page with complete author information (to be submitted separately from the main manuscript for blind review).

  • Ethical approval letters (for research involving humans or animals).

  • Conflict of Interest statement.

  • ORCID IDs for authors (recommended but not compulsory).

3. MANUSCRIPT FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

3.1. General Format

  • File Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)

  • Paper Size: A4

  • Font: Times New Roman, 12-point size

  • Spacing: Double-spaced throughout (including abstract, references, and tables)

  • Margins: 2.54 cm (1 inch) on all sides

  • Page Numbers: Numbered consecutively in the bottom right corner

  • Line Numbers: Continuous line numbering should be enabled to facilitate the review process

3.2. Language

  • Manuscripts must be written in clear, concise, and grammatically correct English .

  • Non-native English speakers are strongly advised to have their manuscript checked by a professional language editing service before submission.

3.3. Length

  • Research Articles: Typically 4,000–8,000 words (excluding references and abstract).

  • Review Articles: Up to 10,000 words (by invitation or prior consultation with editors).

  • Short Communications: Up to 2,500 words with no more than 2 figures/tables and 15 references.

4. MANUSCRIPT STRUCTURE

Manuscripts should be organized in the following order:

4.1. Title Page (Submitted as a Separate File)

  • Title: Concise and informative (maximum 20 words). Avoid abbreviations in the title.

  • Author Names: Full names (first name, middle initial, last name) for all authors.

  • Affiliations: Department, institution, city, postal code, and country for each author. Use superscript numbers to match authors to affiliations.

  • Corresponding Author: Clearly indicate the corresponding author and provide their complete postal address, institutional email, and ORCID iD (if available).

  • Short Title: A running title of fewer than 50 characters.

4.2. Main Manuscript File (Blinded for Peer Review)

The main document must NOT contain any author names, affiliations, or identifying information.

4.2.1. Title

The full title of the manuscript (same as on title page).

4.2.2. Abstract

  • A single paragraph of 250–300 words.

  • The abstract should briefly state: the purpose of the research, principal results, and major conclusions.

  • Do not cite references in the abstract.

  • Abbreviations should be avoided or defined at first mention.

4.2.3. Keywords

Provide 4 to 6 keywords or short phrases, arranged alphabetically.

4.2.4. Introduction

  • Provide background information that puts the work into context.

  • State the rationale for the study and specific objectives or hypotheses.

  • Cite relevant literature but avoid an exhaustive historical review.

4.2.5. Materials and Methods

  • Provide sufficient detail to allow the work to be reproduced.

  • For established methods, cite appropriate references.

  • For new or substantially modified methods, provide detailed descriptions.

  • Ethical Approval: For research involving animals or human participants, include a statement confirming ethical approval. Provide the name of the ethics committee, the approval number, and a statement that informed consent was obtained (where applicable).

  • Statistical methods should be described in detail.

4.2.6. Results

  • Present results clearly and concisely, using tables and figures where appropriate.

  • Do not duplicate data in the text and in tables/figures.

  • Use appropriate statistical measures (e.g., means ± SD/SE).

4.2.7. Discussion

  • Interpret the results, explaining the significance of the findings.

  • Compare and contrast your results with those from other relevant studies.

  • Discuss the implications of the findings and any limitations.

  • Avoid repeating the results in detail.

4.2.8. Conclusion(s)

  • Provide a brief summary of the main findings and their importance.

  • Suggest future research directions if appropriate.

4.2.9. Acknowledgments (if any)

  • List individuals who provided assistance but do not meet authorship criteria.

  • Mention funding sources and grant numbers.

4.2.10. Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors must declare any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence the work. If no conflicts exist, state: "The authors declare no conflicts of interest."

4.2.11. References

See Section 6 for detailed referencing guidelines.

4.2.12. Tables and Figures

  • Each table/figure should be embedded within the manuscript file at the appropriate place after they are first cited, or placed on separate pages at the end of the document.

  • Provide a caption for each table/figure above the table and below the figure, respectively.

5. OPEN ACCESS POLICY

GJLS is committed to open access publishing. All articles published in the journal are freely available to read and download immediately upon publication. This ensures that research is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial or institutional resources . Authors retain copyright of their work.

6. REFERENCING STYLE

GJLS uses the APA (American Psychological Association) 7th Edition referencing style.

6.1. In-Text Citations

  • Single author: (Shah, 2023) or Shah (2023) found that...

  • Two authors: (Ahmed & Khan, 2022)

  • Three or more authors: (Ali et al., 2021)

  • Multiple citations: Separate with semicolons and order alphabetically: (Akhtar, 2020; Bibi, 2021; Zafar, 2022)