iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Clare Mc Fadden

PLOS @plos.org · 08/09/2026

The first articles have now been published in our new journal, PLOS Ecosystems. These papers bring together open research from multiple disciplines to address the challenges facing our terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Read the first articles: buff.ly/8rsP0Z3

PLOS Ecosystems banner announcing "First articles now published" and urging readers to "Read the first papers," set over a split underwater coral and shoreline photo to promote multidisciplinary ecosystem research.

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Reposted by Clare Mc Fadden

PLOS @plos.org · 21/07/2026

The first research articles have now been published in our new journal, PLOS Aging and Health. These papers mark an important milestone for our journal, showcasing open access research advancing understanding of aging and health across disciplines. Read the first articles: plos.io/4w3zVTq

Silhouette of a group walking on a beach during sunset. The image promotes PLOS Aging and Health, announcing the publication of its first articles on open access research about aging and health.

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Reposted by Clare Mc Fadden

Dorothy Bishop @deevybee.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Just as publishers are waking up to the threats from paper mills, they are adopting a new approach to keep one step ahead, as explained in this guest blogpost by Matt Spick. deevybee.blogspot.com/2026/07/how-... #researchintegrity #publishing #papermills

deevybee.blogspot.com

How paper mills go straight (without going clean): a shift to dual-use services

Guest post by Matt Spick Photo: Parsadanov/Shutterstock.com From relative obscurity, paper mills have recently mo...

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

For anyone wondering about how to investigate and report concerns in an article, @cosig.net is the best place to start! 🕵️ Great to see it being highlighted in @plosbiology.org

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Reposted by Clare Mc Fadden

PLOS @plos.org · 28/05/2026

Today PLOS publishes Redefining Publishing: Practical pathways to open science, the public report from our 18-month research and design project. The report asks how publishing can better support open science. Explore the report: plos.io/4o3bsun #OpenScience

explore.plos.org

Redefining publishing for the Open Science era

Explore innovative publishing models that support open science, enhance research transparency, and foster global collaboration in the evolving landscape of scholarly communication.

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Annie Whamond @anniewham.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Well, #WCRI2026 was an amazing conference! Spent 5 days mingling with #ResearchIntegrity enthusiasts from all disciplines! Inspiring to hear all the efforts going towards battling #papermills Huge thanks to @jabyrnesci.bsky.social for organising this sleuth get together. Too many legends to tag! 💜

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

If you're interested in how paper mills might be using AI, be sure to attend Plenary Session 1 to hear from @plos.org 's Renee Hoch, and drop by poster 95 for a deep dive into AI text detection in paper mills from me! #wcri2026

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Kicked off #WCRI with a cycle around Stanley Park and a great workshop on imaging metadata from @image-integrity.bsky.social and Nathalie Gaudreault from @alleninstitute.org reminding us that an image without metadata is just a picture, not data!

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

I'll be at this workshop too! See you there!

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Reposted by Clare Mc Fadden

PLOS One @plosone.org · 24/02/2026

After working with our community, @plosone.org has introduced stringent requirements for publishing Mendelian randomization studies. Our experiences with this study type and expectations for authors are published in this Editorial: journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

journals.plos.org

Expectations for Mendelian randomization research in PLOS One

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

These two panels, although maybe contrast or quality differences between them

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PLOS One @plosone.org · 11/12/2025

Open science empowers transparency and scrutiny. See how our editorial checks and review processes protect the scientific record at every stage. plos.io/3MsfiP2 #ResearchIntegrity #PublicationEthics #TrustInScience

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

My PLOS Pub Ethics colleague has a post that might help provide some context on why retraction notices don't refer to misconduct which implies culpability: bsky.app/profile/drma... For more info about the various types of image concerns, she has a great thread here: bsky.app/profile/drma...

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Reposted by Clare Mc Fadden

Dead Neanderthals @deadneanderthals.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Our new paper is out in PLOS Biology! I'm very conflicted about the project: proud because it feels like the most important project I've ever been a part of, but also very sad that we found so many problems in our field. Read the paper here: journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

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Elisabeth Bik @elisabethbik.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Next: Renee Hoch from @plos.org with:'Sustainable Approaches to Upholding High Integrity Standards in the Face of Large-Scale Threats: Insights From PLOS One' @plosone.org has adaptable system-wide screening to screen for integrity issues on a large scale. #PRC10

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Hi Alice, I'm not sure why you're asking me to clarify the experimental conditions of the experiment above. You could try searching for the image on Google to find the original source. Hope that helps!

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Hi Alice, the first message in the thread says they are meant to be different exp conditions 😃 In terms of whether they are representative, the only thing we can tell from the info available here is that at least one panel is not representative as there is no way it shows the correct condition!

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Hi Alice, the recommended protocol for preparing figures is to use representative images, not the most photogenic. If two overlapping or identical images are used to represent different experimental conditions, then something has gone wrong for obvious reasons.

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

You've had a lot of practice! 😂

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Found this! Although I see I've been scooped by @drmariazalm.bsky.social!

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Reposted by Clare Mc Fadden

Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

The PLOS Publication Ethics team is hiring a Senior Editor with experience handling large-scale cases... paper mills, peer review integrity, manipulation of the publication process. Please consider applying if this sounds like your cup of tea! ☕ UK link: lnkd.in/eG9Ws2qk US link: lnkd.in/eup-ZrK9

lnkd.in

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

This is a fully remote position open only to residents of the UK and some US states. PLOS unfortunately is not able to hire in other countries/states.

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

lnkd.in

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

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Dr. Maria Zalm @drmariazalm.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

The PLOS Publication Ethics team is expanding further, looking for an Associate Editor to strengthen our team (permanent contract, fully remote, UK and select USA states only). See info below: UK link: job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/plos/jobs/46... USA link: job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/plos/jobs/46...

job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io

Associate Editor, Publication Ethics

UK- Remote

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Nonia Pariente @npariente.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

I am recruiting - if you have a background in plant mol cell bio, a keen interest in sustainability and planetary health and are looking to move away from the bench, this may be for you! Have a 👀 and please reach out if Qs 1yr FTC, remote in the UK job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io/plos/jobs/46...

job-boards.eu.greenhouse.io

PLOS Biology Associate Editor- FTC

UK-Remote

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

We're looking for two people to join our team! 🥳 If you have experience with image integrity or editorial operations, consider applying for these roles! #ResearchIntegrity #JobAlert

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

The screenshot mentions disputed authorship which you can read more about in this thread. Worth noting that not dealing with an authorship dispute before publishing is a bad idea as it could lead to an investigation of the article by institution & journal. bsky.app/profile/drma...

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Thanks for asking! We investigate potential competing interests when we become aware of these (both pre- and post-publication). My colleague @drmariazalm.bsky.social did a great summary of this issue here! If you have any concerns about PLOS journals please email us. bsky.app/profile/drma...

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Amazingly detailed resources for anyone involved in post-publication review. I'm sure this will inspire and support anyone who finds themselves sleuthing or wants to become (or is already! 👋) a publication ethics editor!

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Reposted by Clare Mc Fadden

PLOS Biology @plosbiology.org · 21/05/2025

Fantastic coverage of Matt Spick &co's @plosbiology.org paper on #AI & #PaperMills by Miryam Naddaf in @nature.com & @cathleenogrady.bsky.social @science.org www.nature.com/articles/d41... www.science.org/content/arti... - original paper: plos.io/3RWgNog

science.org

Low-quality papers are surging by exploiting public data sets and AI

Paper mills are also likely contributing to “false discoveries”

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Reposted by Clare Mc Fadden

Anna Abalkina @abalkina.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

This is a must-read. Csaba Szabó, the author of Unreliable, was approached by a paper mill, and he decided to conduct a sting operation. He documented how paper mills operate. forbetterscience.com/2025/05/19/a...

forbetterscience.com

A Sting Inside a Papermill

“It’s clear that any academically corrupt individual — particularly one with editorial connections — could easily “place” dozens of these Anzen products into indexed journals and collect a ha…

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Elisabeth Bik @elisabethbik.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Winner! Congratulations on winning this round. Here is another one: 🏅

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Reposted by Clare Mc Fadden

Elisabeth Bik @elisabethbik.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Very good! I will make you the sole winner of this round. Congratulations on winning that shiny award! 🏅 Here is what I found (with the help of ImageTwin):

Same image as above, but now with added orange, cyan, and pink boxes to highlight overlapping panels.

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Three overlapping panels in Fig 3&5 with contrast/colour change. I stared at Fig 6 for longer than I should have at this time of night, but alas, no luck!

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

"PLOS will not compromise on issues of scientific rigor and editorial integrity... Research thrives when rooted in the open exchange of ideas, different perspectives, and international cooperation."

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

A familiar story for many PhD students... The cell line doesn't act the same as described in the article, the mouse phenotype doesn't replicate, the supervisor tells them it's their fault 😮‍💨

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

It was great to chat with you! 😃

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

This really made me laugh! If no one is yelling at us, we're probably not doing the job right. Although not on the phone, eugh the horror 😱 And also not by our lovely boss in PLOS!

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Thanks for your interest! I'm happy to have a chat :) I'll DM you

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

PLOS One are hiring! 🎉 A lovely team to work with, and ideal job if you want to be at the front line of publishing and are coming from an early career editorial role, finishing your PhD or looking for a life outside academia

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Would you like to join the fight against paper mills? Now's your chance! #ResearchIntegrity #PublicationEthics #JobAlert

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

We really should! There's lots of work being done in the #OpenScience #OpenData arenas to change policies and minds on data sharing.

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Totally agree that more transparency would be ideal, and I think publishers are starting to move towards this as demonstrated by @biologists.bsky.social's recent update about their pub ethics work. Hopefully we'll see more of this in 2025!

biologists.com

The Company of Biologists embraces Publication Integrity Week

19 November 2024 Publication Integrity Week 2024 takes place on 18-22 November 2024 and is hosted by the Committee of Publication Ethics (COPE). In line with our commitment to ethical publishing, The ...

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

We do see occasional complaints that could be considered malicious or vexatious, but these tend to be personal or political (e.g. from a competitor or about a politically-sensitive topic). This is not what we see from the sleuthing community.

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Clare Mc Fadden @clare-dnag.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Would you find it reassuring to know that editors verify errors reported by sleuths? I work in Publication Ethics at PLOS, we ask for raw data & consider impact on the conclusions. The vast majority of errors reported by sleuths are accurate & lead to editorial action (e.g. retraction or correction)

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