Research journals
Put integrity first by choosing a PLOS journal
When it comes to research integrity and scientific rigor, we will not compromise. With a focus on fundamental and applied research, our journals cover all scientific disciplines across life, health, and sustainability. We have processes to ensure the science is rigorous, practices to make sure research is shared and reused, policies that are equitable, and innovations in scholarly communications.
Explore our journals, each publishing research in these scientific disciplines, below.
Life science
Our leading life science journal, PLOS Biology is a leading life science journal that champions inclusive, high-impact research across all disciplines—from molecules to ecosystems. We offer innovative publication formats, rigorous, transparent and accountable decision-making, and collaborative editorial support that is focused on helping researchers publish their best work. Our transdisciplinary approach and author-friendly policies ensure your work reaches its full potential and impact.
PLOS Complex Systems brings together researchers across disciplines, providing a platform for theoretical, modeling, and applied research that advances our understanding of complex systems. The journal encompasses diverse topics—from chaotic systems and networks to risk modeling, systems biology, and economics—emphasizing methodological rigor and broad community impact.
PLOS Computational Biology provides a home for research of exceptional significance that uses computational methods and AI to further our understanding of living systems from molecular to ecosystem scales. We strengthen the accessibility and reusability of your work to empower biologists everywhere.
PLOS Genetics publishes research related to genetics and genomics across the full breadth of this field, from microbes to humans and from basic science to translational approaches. We welcome cross-disciplinary research that provides new insights and substantially advances our understanding of biological principles and processes. We act as a forum for practicing scientists by publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research, reviews and opinion articles.
PLOS One accepts research in over two hundred subject areas across science, engineering, medicine, and the related social sciences and humanities. We evaluate research on the basis of scientific validity, strong methodology, and high ethical standards, selecting for research that contributes to academic knowledge. We encourage inter-and multidisciplinary studies, and accept a range of submissions from primary research to protocols and systematic reviews, including research with negative or null results.
PLOS Pathogens publishes ground-breaking research on pathogen biology and host-pathogen interactions across all life forms. From fundamental discovery through to translational, applied and clinical research we uphold the highest standards of quality, ethics, integrity, and editorial judgment through fair and transparent peer review. Our rigorous selection process ensures that only impactful and high-quality research is published. We are committed to advancing Open Science and a diverse and inclusive culture that represents our global community and engages with international experts as authors, editors, and reviewers from across the world.
Health science
PLOS Complex Systems brings together researchers across disciplines, providing a platform for theoretical, modeling, and applied research that advances our understanding of complex systems. The journal encompasses diverse topics—from chaotic systems and networks to risk modeling, systems biology, and economics—emphasizing methodological rigor and broad community impact.
PLOS Digital Health is a journal for democratizing healthcare in the interdisciplinary and digital age. We encourage excellent research from healthcare professionals, policy makers, and other stakeholders across digital health that embraces open code and data sharing to improve health outcomes for patients. We empower researchers to ensure that progress and technology in this rapidly-changing field is discoverable, accessible, and reproducible.
PLOS Global Public Health makes interdisciplinary research of the highest ethical and methodological rigor visible and accessible to health professionals, policy-makers, and local communities, prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in public health research. We welcome qualitative and quantitative primary research in a range of topics from maternal and child health, global health security, and evidence use and policy, to infectious and non-communicable diseases and environmental health.
PLOS Medicine publishes high-impact research that transforms healthcare delivery, shapes policy, and advances clinical understanding. Our scope encompasses critical challenges in global health—from major diseases to health equity and the social determinants of health—with emphasis on work that bridges research and real-world implementation. The journal serves as a trusted platform where rigorous methodology meets practical impact, connecting researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers via collaborative editorial support to drive meaningful improvements in global health outcomes.
PLOS Mental Health is a global, multidisciplinary journal that brings together research aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of all people around the world. Works published will range from academic and clinical research, to submissions on technology to support improved mental health, and policy and governance. Topics include, but are not restricted to, lived experience, community mental health, public mental health and policy, socio-economic and environmental impacts, psychiatry and occupational mental health.
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases covers the epidemiology, pathology, treatment, prevention and control of neglected tropical diseases, defined as poverty-promoting infectious diseases that primarily occur in rural areas and poor urban areas of low-income and middle-income countries. Research in all aspects of these diseases is welcome, from clinical features to vector biology, public health, social sciences and policy.
PLOS One accepts research in over two hundred subject areas across science, engineering, medicine, and the related social sciences and humanities. We evaluate research on the basis of scientific validity, strong methodology, and high ethical standards, selecting for research that contributes to academic knowledge. We encourage inter-and multidisciplinary studies, and accept a range of submissions from primary research to protocols and systematic reviews, including research with negative or null results.
PLOS Water brings together research of the highest methodological and ethical standards for water as a vital resource for societies in every region of the world. Covering topics ranging from water access and security, to health impacts and behavioral research, the broad scope unites research across the interconnected issues of clean water supply and consumption, empowering researchers to drive collaboration in order to create real global change.
Sustainability science
PLOS Climate empowers global, multidisciplinary collaboration, and enables decision-makers at every level of society to take urgent, evidence-based action on the causes and impacts of climate change. Bringing together scientific research and analysis across disciplines generates powerful insights, which we share transparently and equitably to catalyze real progress.
PLOS Complex Systems brings together researchers across disciplines, providing a platform for theoretical, modeling, and applied research that advances our understanding of complex systems. The journal encompasses diverse topics—from chaotic systems and networks to risk modeling, systems biology, and economics—emphasizing methodological rigor and broad community impact.
PLOS One accepts research in over two hundred subject areas across science, engineering, medicine, and the related social sciences and humanities. We evaluate research on the basis of scientific validity, strong methodology, and high ethical standards, selecting for research that contributes to academic knowledge. We encourage inter-and multidisciplinary studies, and accept a range of submissions from primary research to protocols and systematic reviews, including research with negative or null results.
As our leading sustainability science journal, PLOS Sustainability and Transformation brings together original research, addressing the global challenges of transitioning to a more sustainable and just future. Our journal unites a diverse community of research and policy experts across multiple disciplines, to accelerate the communication of high-quality, high-impact research.
PLOS Water brings together research of the highest methodological and ethical standards for water as a vital resource for societies in every region of the world. Covering topics ranging from water access and security, to health impacts and behavioral research, the broad scope unites research across the interconnected issues of clean water supply and consumption, empowering researchers to drive collaboration in order to create real global change.