In this interview, Dr. Rowan discusses his vision for ACS Macro Letters, emerging directions in polymer science, and how the journal supports rapid communication of significant advances in the field.
Dr. Stuart J. Rowan serves as Editor-in-Chief of ACS Macro Letters and is a professor at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago. A leading researcher in polymer science, Dr. Rowan's work focuses on supramolecular polymers, dynamic and adaptive materials, self-healing systems, and stimuli-responsive macromolecules and more.
Published by the American Chemical Society (ACS), ACS Macro Letters is a premier journal dedicated to publishing global rapid communication of significant advances in macromolecular and biomacromolecular science from researchers around the world.
The journal welcomes research across many fields from chemistry to physics to biology, including polymer engineering, polymer processing, and applications of polymers.
After an average of just 23.9 days from submission to first peer review decision, it takes just 5.8 days for a manuscript submitted to ACS Macro Letters to be published online after the paper has been formally accepted by the editorial team and gone through robust peer review.
Read more about Dr. Rowan’s vision for ACS Macro Letters, emerging trends in polymer science, the evolving publishing landscape, and opportunities for researchers in the field.
In Conversation with Dr. Stuart J. Rowan
What is the best thing about ACS Macro Letters, what sets it apart?
We strive to get the authors a response on their manuscript as quickly as possible with the highest quality reviews.
How does research published in ACS Macro Letters help drive global change?
Polymers have a profound impact on nearly every facet of our lives. By significantly reducing the time between laboratory discovery and peer-reviewed dissemination to just a few weeks, ACS Macro Letters offers the global scientific community an expedited platform for sharing their research findings.
Tell us a bit about your research and how it aligns with ACS Macro Letters?
My group’s work focuses on adaptive and responsive polymeric materials that span fundamental to applied research with applications in sustainability, energy, and health, and as such our research covers many of the key areas that ACS Macro Letters publishes.
What role does the journal play in advancing interdisciplinary and emerging research areas?
ACS Macro Letters covers research in all areas of polymer science and engineering, and as such it serves as a platform for researchers across the field to connect and share their findings.
What key components do you look for in a paper?
I enjoy reading a wide variety of papers, from those that conduct in-depth fundamental research and provide new insights to the polymer community, to those that explore innovative applications of polymers. I am particularly excited by papers that present innovative new findings and perspectives I have not seen before.
What emerging topics and research inquiries are you most excited about?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are revolutionizing all areas of scientific research, including polymer science. The impact of AI is only just being touched on now and I can’t wait to see where this transformative technology takes us.
What advice would you give to early-career researchers looking to contribute to the journal?
We are excited to assist young researchers find a home for their research. For instance, we welcome any young researcher interested in contributing a Viewpoint (if you are interested, I recommend you start by filling out our online proposal form). For original research articles published in ACS Macro Letters, I strongly recommend that the article be written in a clear and concise manner, highlighting the key aspects and impacts of the research.
Additionally, it is crucial to consider the manuscript size constraints imposed by the Letter format. Ensure that your research can be effectively conveyed within these limitations. If your research requires more space, it may be more appropriate to submit it to our related journals, Macromolecules and Biomacromolecules, which publish full manuscripts.
Submit Your Research to ACS Macro Letters
ACS Macro Letters publishes urgent communications of polymer and biopolymer science. The journal welcomes high-impact contributions from researchers across chemistry, physics, biology, polymer engineering, polymer processing, and related fields that drive advances in macromolecular science.
In 2025, articles published in ACS Macro Letters were downloaded over 1 million times and cited more than 14,000 times, reflecting the journal’s global reach and significant impact within the international polymer science community.
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