Level Up Your Publishing Journey with ACS



Getting your research published is hard. These sessions are designed to make it less so.
The Platform, Product & Publishing (PPP) 2026 Webinar Series is a specially designed four-part series for ASEAN researchers, especially early-career researchers and students who want to strengthen their research and publishing skills.

The sessions are led by experienced ACS editors and editorial board members, who will share real perspectives from the publishing process — from understanding how reviewers evaluate manuscripts to preparing a clear and well-structured research article.

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • Learn Practical Tips from ACS Editors & Authors – Get expert advice on scholarly publishing, ethical practices, and improving research visibility. 
  • Access ACS Journals and Resources Relevant to Your Field – Explore ACS journals, research tools, and resources designed to support researchers at every stage. 
  • Built Around the Challenges Researchers in ASEAN Actually Face – Designed to support researchers and students in the region. 
  • Earn a Certificate – Receive a certificate of participation for each session you attend. Complete all four sessions to earn the full PPP 2026 certificate.

🎯 Engage & Win! Take part in a trivia quiz for a chance to win a prize and interact with experts.

SEE WHAT PEERS EXPERIENCED

"This webinar was very helpful for future authors .It shows us what to prepare and expect when publishing."

— Session 1 Participant
"In this webinar, I learned about the dos and don'ts of using AI to build a manuscript for publication."

— Session 2 Participant
"I enjoy participating in seminars organized by ACS Publications. The topics are relevant, the speakers are clear and articulate, and the scheduling works well across time zones."

— Kwanchanok Sathapornpiboon, Librarian, Thammasat University Library
"The PPP webinar was practical and well-structured, with actionable takeaways I can apply right away. The examples and Q&A were particularly helpful."

— May Thu Than Htike, PhD student, Khon Kaen University

SPEAKERS

Prof. Habibah A. Wahab

Prof. Habibah A. Wahab

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia
Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling
Mandy Sum

Yuan Qiao, Ph.D.

Nanyang Assistant Professor (NRF Fellow)
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Associate Editor, ACS Infectious Diseases
Asha Liza James, PhD

Asha Liza James, Ph.D.

Associate Publisher
Global Editorial Strategy, ACS Publications
Mandy Sum

Mandy Sum

Market & Business Development Manager, ASEAN & Oceania
ACS Publications
Mihir Jha, PhD

Mihir Jha, Ph.D.

Senior Team Lead 
Global Editorial Strategy, ACS Publications

SESSION 3 - FORTHCOMING

DATE
Wednesday, September 9, 2026

TIME
11:00 - 12:00 GMT+8

TYPE
Virtual (Zoom)

SPEAKERS
Prof. Habibah A. Wahab and Mandy Sum
Habibah A. Wahab

From Idea to Article: Level Up Your Scientific Publishing with ACS

Starting out in research and preparing your next paper? Strong research is important, but clear writing helps reviewers and readers understand the value of your work.

In this session, you’ll learn practical tips to structure your manuscript, organize your ideas, and explain your findings more clearly. You’ll also see how to use the ACS Publications platform to find relevant research across chemistry and related fields — including life sciences, materials, energy, and more — explore curated content, and learn about new ACS journals coming in 2027.
Session Highlights

Platform:
  • Navigate the ACS Publications platform for smarter research discovery
Product:
  • Discover new ACS journals
Publishing:
  • Learn practical tips to organize ideas and communicate research more clearly
Engagement:
  • Take part in a trivia quiz for a chance to win a prize

Prof. Habibah A. Wahab

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia
Prof. Habibah A. Wahab is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at Universiti Sains Malaysia. She earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Technology from the University of London and has twice served Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation as Director (2008–2010) and Director General (2012–2014) of the Malaysian Institute of Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals. A former Associate Editor of the Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, she currently serves on the journal's Editorial Board.

SESSION 4 - FORTHCOMING

DATE
Wednesday, September 23, 2026

TIME
11:00 - 12:00 GMT+8

TYPE
Virtual (Zoom)

SPEAKERS
Dr. Yuan Qiao and Mandy Sum
Qiao Yuan

From Idea to Article: Refining Your Manuscript for Publication

Getting ready to submit your manuscript? This final session of the PPP 2026 series brings everything together — practical ways to refine your article, communicate your findings clearly, and prepare for submission with confidence.

You’ll also see how ACS resources and platform features can support your research journey, from discovering relevant content to staying current in your field.
Session Highlights

Platform:
  • Explore platform features that support your publishing journey
Product:
  • Use digital books and reference works to master new topics quickly and strengthen your scientific communication
Publishing:
  • Get practical insights from an ACS editor on refining your manuscript for submission
Engagement:
  • Join the trivia quiz for a chance to win a prize

Dr. Yuan Qiao

Nanyang Assistant Professor (NRF Fellow)
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Associate Editor, ACS Infectious Diseases
Dr. Qiao studied chemistry at Bryn Mawr College (USA), then earned her Ph.D. in Chemical Biology at Harvard University, where she characterized the enzymes that build bacterial peptidoglycan—a key antibiotic target—and developed new tools for antibiotic discovery. She later joined Prof. Yue Wang's lab at IMCB Singapore to study the role of peptidoglycan in bacterial-fungal interactions. A recipient of the A*STAR National Science Scholarship (2007–2016), she has been an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Division at Nanyang Technological University since November 2019.

SESSION 1 - COMPLETED

DATE
Wednesday, April 29

TIME
11:00 - 12:00 GMT+8

TYPE
Virtual (Zoom)

SPEAKERS
Dr. Asha Liza James and Mandy Sum
Asha Liza James

Demystifying Peer Review – Part 1

Peer review is a critical step in the publishing process, yet many early-career researchers are unfamiliar with how it works. In this session, Dr. Asha Liza James, Associate Publisher at ACS Publications, will explain how manuscripts are evaluated and what reviewers and editors look for during peer review.

Drawing on her experience supporting editorial strategy and publishing workflows at ACS, Dr. James will share practical insights to help authors better understand the review process and prepare manuscripts for successful evaluation.
Session Highlights

Platform:
  • Exploring the ACS platform
Product:
  • Discover ACS’s latest journals in multidisciplinary fields
Publishing:
  • Understand how the peer review process works and what reviewers look for in a manuscript
Engagement:
  • Take part in a trivia quiz for a chance to win a prize

Asha Liza James, Ph.D.

Associate Publisher
Global Editorial Strategy, ACS Publications
Before joining the ACS, Asha Liza James earned her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, pursuing research in the domain of nanoscience and materials chemistry.

Asha is passionate about initiatives towards improving author experience and diversity in science publishing. In her current role, Asha manages editorial workflows to support the implementation of publishing strategies and editorial initiatives to sustain and enhance ACS journals’ standing within the global science community.

SESSION 2 - COMPLETED

DATE
Wednesday, May 6

TIME
11:00 - 12:00 GMT+8

TYPE
Virtual (Zoom)

SPEAKERS
Dr. Mihir Jha and Mandy Sum
Mihir Jha

Demystifying Peer Review – Part 2

Building on the first session, this webinar explores common challenges authors face during peer review. Participants will learn why manuscripts are often rejected and how to respond constructively to reviewer comments.

The discussion will also highlight emerging considerations in peer review, including the role of AI and research integrity in manuscript evaluation.

The session will be led by Dr. Mihir Jha, Senior Team Lead in the Global Editorial Strategy at ACS Publications. In his role, Mihir works with editorial and publishing teams to support editorial strategy and initiatives that enhance the author experience.
Session Highlights

Platform:
  • Exploring the ACS platform
Product:
  • Explore ACS reference works and digital books
Publishing:
  • Learn why manuscripts are rejected and how to respond to reviewer comments, including AI considerations and research integrity.

Mihir Jha, Ph.D.

Senior Team Lead,
Global Editorial Strategy, ACS Publications
Mihir Jha is a Senior Team Lead at ACS Publications, where he works on developing products and services to enhance the author experience and strengthen the impact of ACS journals. In his current role, Mihir manages a team of Development Editors and Publishing Editors, collaborating with global ACS staff to support editorial strategy and ensure the smooth operation of editorial workflows.

Prior to joining ACS, he earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) and his Master’s degree from IIT Madras.

ABOUT PLATFORM, PRODUCT & PUBLISHING

Each session highlights three key elements that support researchers throughout their publishing journey:

Platform – Explore ACS platforms and researcher resources that help you discover research and stay updated with the latest developments.

Product – Learn about ACS journals, books, and reference resources that support research and teaching.

Publishing – Gain practical insights into the publishing process, including peer review, scientific writing, and preparing manuscripts for journal submission.

Together, these elements provide researchers with a clearer understanding of both the publishing process and the ACS resources that support their research journey.

CONNECT WITH ACS

Need more information about PPP 2026 or other ACS Publications resources? We're happy to help!
📩 Email us at: acsasia@acs.org

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