The editorial team of Advanced Functional Polymers and Nanocomposites is responsible for maintaining the journal’s academic quality, editorial integrity, and scholarly independence while ensuring that manuscripts are assessed and processed in a fair, transparent, consistent, and timely manner. Collectively, the Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editors, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members contribute to the development and implementation of the journal’s editorial policies, oversee appropriate peer-review practices, safeguard confidentiality and conflicts of interest, and uphold recognized standards of research and publication ethics. Each role carries defined responsibilities within the editorial process, while all members are expected to exercise independent professional judgment, treat authors and reviewers equitably, and act in the best interests of the journal, its scholarly community, and the integrity of the published record.

Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief has overall responsibility for the journal’s academic direction, editorial standards, and integrity. The Editor-in-Chief provides strategic leadership for the journal, establishes and maintains appropriate editorial policies, and ensures that published content meets the journal’s aims, scope, and standards of scholarly quality. The Editor-in-Chief oversees the editorial decision-making process and has final responsibility for decisions concerning the acceptance, revision, rejection, correction, expression of concern, or retraction of manuscripts, while ensuring that such decisions are based on scholarly merit and are free from inappropriate influence. The Editor-in-Chief appoints and guides members of the editorial team, assigns manuscripts to appropriate editors, and ensures that peer review is conducted fairly, confidentially, consistently, and efficiently. The Editor-in-Chief is also responsible for addressing serious ethical or publication-related concerns, managing conflicts of interest, supporting editorial independence, and ensuring that the journal follows recognized standards of responsible research and scholarly publishing.

Deputy Editors

Deputy Editors support the Editor-in-Chief in the overall management and development of the journal and may assume delegated editorial responsibilities within defined areas of expertise. They assist in maintaining the journal’s academic standards, monitor the progress and quality of manuscript handling, and may oversee the editorial assessment and peer-review process for assigned submissions. Deputy Editors evaluate manuscripts for relevance, originality, methodological quality, and scholarly significance and may recommend appropriate editorial decisions to the Editor-in-Chief. They may also assist with resolving complex peer-review matters, identifying suitable reviewers, addressing ethical or procedural concerns, and ensuring consistency in the application of editorial policies. In addition, Deputy Editors contribute to the strategic development of the journal by supporting initiatives related to editorial quality, international visibility, reviewer development, special issues, and the continued improvement of the journal’s scholarly profile.

Associate Editors

Associate Editors are responsible for managing manuscripts assigned to them within their subject-area expertise and for supporting a rigorous, fair, and timely peer-review process. They conduct an initial scholarly assessment of submissions, determine whether manuscripts are appropriate for further consideration, identify qualified and independent reviewers, and oversee the evaluation of manuscripts through the review process. Associate Editors assess reviewer comments critically rather than relying solely on individual recommendations and provide reasoned recommendations regarding revision, acceptance, or rejection. They should maintain confidentiality throughout the editorial process, identify potential conflicts of interest, and remain alert to concerns relating to research or publication ethics. Associate Editors are also expected to communicate professionally with authors and reviewers and to ensure that editorial decisions are consistent with the journal’s policies, standards, and scope.

Editorial Board Members

Editorial Board Members provide subject-specific scholarly expertise and contribute to the academic development and credibility of the journal. They may advise the Editor-in-Chief and other editors on matters relating to the journal’s scope, emerging research areas, editorial policies, and scholarly priorities. Board Members may participate in peer review, recommend qualified reviewers or potential authors, evaluate manuscripts within their areas of expertise when requested, and contribute to the development of special issues or thematic initiatives. They are expected to maintain confidentiality, disclose relevant conflicts of interest, provide objective and constructive scholarly assessments, and uphold the journal’s ethical and editorial standards. Editorial Board Members also serve as academic ambassadors for the journal by supporting responsible dissemination of its published research and encouraging high-quality scholarly contributions from the wider research community.