Why all researchers should add becoming a peer reviewer to their career plan ,Becoming a peer reviewer is a valuable addition to a researcher's career plan for several reasons:

1. Enhancing Expertise: Engaging in peer review deepens a researcher's understanding of their field. By evaluating the methodologies and findings of others, researchers can identify best practices, current trends, and potential gaps in knowledge, which can inform their own work.

2. Building Reputation: Serving as a peer reviewer enhances a researcher’s reputation within the academic community. It signals expertise and engagement, making them more visible to colleagues, publishers, and potential collaborators.

3. Networking Opportunities: Peer reviewing allows researchers to connect with editors and other scholars in their field. This can lead to networking opportunities, invitations to collaborate, and potential future partnerships.

4. Developing Critical Skills: Reviewing manuscripts hones critical thinking and analytical skills. Researchers learn to assess the quality of research rigor, clarity of presentation, and overall impact, skills that are invaluable in both their own research and in future grant or manuscript submissions.

5. Contributing to the Community: Peer reviewers play an essential role in maintaining the integrity and quality of research. By contributing to the peer review process, researchers help uphold the standards of their field and ensure that only high-quality research is published.

6. Staying Current: Reviewing submissions exposes researchers to cutting-edge ideas and methodologies. This ongoing learning can inspire new research questions and innovative approaches, helping them stay at the forefront of their field.

7. Career Advancement: Many academic institutions and funding agencies value peer review as a criterion for tenure, promotion, or grant applications. Including peer review in a career plan can demonstrate a commitment to academic service and expertise, which can be advantageous in career progression.

8. Reciprocity: Engaging in peer review often leads to a reciprocal relationship where researchers may be more likely to receive high-quality reviews on their own submissions, improving their chances of publication success.

9. Increased Understanding of the Publication Process: By participating in peer review, researchers gain insights into the editorial decision-making and publication processes. This knowledge can improve their own writing and submission strategies.

10. Mentorship Opportunities: As researchers advance in their careers, they may take on roles where they mentor junior colleagues or students. Being a peer reviewer fosters skills in providing constructive feedback and guidance, skills essential for effective mentoring.

In summary, adding peer review to a researcher's career plan enhances professional development, builds networks and reputation, improves research quality, and contributes positively to the academic community.