PLOS Computational Biology: Scope, APC & Guide

PLOS Computational Biology is an open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal launched in 2005 by the Public Library of Science (PLOS) in official association with the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB). The journal publishes research that applies computational methods, mathematical modeling, simulation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to living systems across all biological scales. Researchers and research administrators consult the journal to evaluate submission criteria, navigate format-free initial submission workflows, verify publication fees, and comply with open science mandates.

Operating under the electronic ISSN 1553-7358 (abbreviated in indexing databases as PLoS Comput Biol), the publication provides immediate open access under Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licensing. Authors planning submissions must balance editorial requirements regarding data availability, open-source software licensing, and methodological validation against Article Processing Charges (APCs) and review timelines.

What it is

The PLOS Computational Biology journal (often referred to as plos comp bio or plos computational) is a community-driven journal dedicated to advancing biological discovery through quantitative techniques. Unlike general biology venues that treat computational tools purely as supplementary utilities, this journal treats computational modeling and algorithmic innovation as central biological drivers.

All articles are freely accessible online under the CC BY license. The journal is indexed across international bibliographic databases, including PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Crossref, Dimensions, and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Digital archiving is maintained through CLOCKSS, LOCKSS, and PubMed Central. Manuscripts undergo formal peer review coordinated by academic editors who are active researchers in computational biology, bioinformatics, and systems biology.

Who runs it and what it covers

The journal is published by the Public Library of Science (PLOS) in collaboration with the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB). Editorial oversight is led by Editors-in-Chief Feilim Mac Gabhann and Virginia Pitzer, supported by an international Editorial Board.

The scope encompasses living systems from the nanoscale to the macroscale across nine subject sections:

Biological Macromolecules: Structural modeling, molecular dynamics, and machine learning methods providing structural insight.
Cell Biology & Physiology: Quantitative models of cellular regulation, signaling pathways, and tissue dynamics.
Epidemiology & Public Health: Mathematical and computational modeling of infectious disease transmission and population health.
Evolution, Ecology, & Behavior: Evolutionary dynamics, population genetics, and ecosystem modeling.
Genomics, Epigenomics, & Proteomics: Algorithmic pipelines, functional genomics data integration, and multi-omic profiling.
Immunology & Microbes: Host-pathogen interactions and immune system dynamics.
Neuroscience: Neural information processing, brain network architectures, and cognitive modeling.
Systems Biology: Integrative modeling of multi-omic and complex experimental datasets.
Software and Methods: Dedicated tracks for reusable computational tools and methodological frameworks.

The journal accepts three primary research formats, alongside front matter:

Research Articles: Primary investigations presenting substantial biological discoveries or validated computational models.
Methods Articles: Significant new computational or mathematical methodologies with demonstrated broad utility.
Software Articles: Open-source computational tools of broad utility. Software must be hosted in an established public repository under an OSI-approved open-source license, accompanied by documentation and test data.
Front Matter: Invited reviews, tutorials, Perspectives, and the widely read Ten Simple Rules series.

How to search or use it

Navigating the journal involves discovering published research or submitting manuscripts through the official portal. Prospective authors follow a six-step workflow based on official PLOS guidelines:

Verify Aims and Article Type Match: Review the journal scope and confirm that the work provides biological insight rather than an abstract algorithm lacking biological context. Select a Research, Methods, or Software track.
Prepare Format-Free Manuscript Files: Under the format-free initial submission policy, authors may upload manuscript files in any standard layout during initial screening. Strict formatting is deferred until provisional editorial acceptance.
Compile Mandatory Statements: Prepare an explicit Data Availability Statement identifying public repositories (such as Zenodo, Figshare, Dryad, or NCBI) where raw data and scripts reside. Confirm all code complies with the Code Availability policy. Ensure the corresponding author has an active ORCID iD.
Optionally Link Preprints: Authors can elect to automatically post or link their manuscript to bioRxiv or medRxiv during submission (see our analysis on preprint vs. postprint vs. version of record and CC0 vs. CC BY for preprints).
Submit via Editorial Manager: Access the portal at https://www.editorialmanager.com/pcompbiol. Select the article type, declare the section, suggest editors and independent reviewers, and upload files.
Track Peer Review and Revision Stages: The Academic Editor conducts an initial assessment. If sent for external evaluation, the manuscript enters single-anonymous peer review, where reviewers assess validity and conclusions.

Strengths and limits

Evaluating the journal requires weighing its editorial reputation and open-access infrastructure against publication costs:

Strengths:
- Community Recognition: Strong reputation through ISCB affiliation and high standing among computational biologists.
- Open Science Standards: Mandatory data and open-source code sharing ensure reproducibility.
- Format-Free Initial Submission: Reduces administrative burden before peer review.
- Indexing and Archiving: Immediate indexing across PubMed Central and MEDLINE, ensuring compliance with funder open-access mandates.
Limits:
- Article Processing Charge: The standard fee of $3,165 USD requires grant support or waiver qualification.
- Strict Biological Relevance Requirement: Manuscripts focusing purely on computer science theory without biological application are declined at triage.
- Single-Anonymous Review: Reviewer identities remain masked by default unless reviewers choose to sign their reviews.

Alternatives

Authors evaluating venues in computational biology and bioinformatics can compare PLOS Computational Biology against peer options:

Journal / Venue	Publisher	Access Model	Primary Scope Focus	Code / Data Mandate	Peer Review Model
PLOS Computational Biology	PLOS / ISCB	Fully Open Access (CC BY)	Computational models, biological insights, open software	Mandatory public data and open code sharing	Single-anonymous peer review
Bioinformatics	Oxford University Press	Hybrid / Open Access options	Bioinformatics algorithms, sequence analysis, software	Code availability required for software papers	Single-anonymous peer review
PLOS ONE	PLOS	Fully Open Access (CC BY)	Multidisciplinary; evaluated on technical and methodological rigor	Mandatory open data policy	Single-anonymous peer review
BMC Bioinformatics	BioMed Central / Springer Nature	Fully Open Access (CC BY)	Computational biology tools, statistical methods, databases	Data and software availability required	Single-anonymous peer review
Nature Communications	Springer Nature	Fully Open Access (CC BY)	Multidisciplinary research across biological sciences	Data and code availability statements mandatory	Single-anonymous (optional transparent review)

FAQ

What is the acceptance rate for published papers in the PLOS Computational Biology journal?

The overall acceptance rate for PLOS Computational Biology typically hovers around 33% to 35% across research submissions. Rates vary by article category; for example, Methods and Software papers have historically experienced acceptance rates between 35% and 45%, following rigorous editorial screening before peer review.

What can I do with a degree in computational biology?

Graduates with degrees in computational biology work across universities, biotechnology firms, pharmaceutical companies, and clinical genomics laboratories. Typical roles include bioinformatics scientist, computational biologist, statistical geneticist, machine learning healthcare engineer, and scientific software developer.

What is the abbreviation for PLOS?

PLOS stands for the Public Library of Science. In academic citations and indexing databases such as PubMed and Web of Science, the standard ISO 4 abbreviation for the journal is PLoS Comput Biol.

Is PLOS a Q1 journal?

Yes. In Scopus and SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) classifications, PLOS Computational Biology ranks in the first quartile (Q1) across Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, and Molecular Biology categories. It also holds a Q1 ranking in Clarivate Journal Citation Reports (JCR).

What is the PLOS Computational Biology publication fee (APC)?

The standard Article Processing Charge (APC) for a Research Article in PLOS Computational Biology is $3,165 USD. Authors based at institutions in Research4Life Group A countries receive full waivers, while authors in Group B countries receive reduced fees ($940 USD). PLOS also provides institutional partnership models and a Publication Fee Assistance (PFA) program.

Where do authors submit manuscripts for PLOS Computational Biology?

Submissions are managed online through Editorial Manager at https://www.editorialmanager.com/pcompbiol. Authors create an account, enter manuscript metadata, declare their target section, and upload manuscript files.

Sources

PLOS Computational Biology. Journal Information and Scope. Public Library of Science. Verified November 7, 2026. https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/s/journal-information
PLOS. Publication Fees and Equity Models. Public Library of Science. Verified November 7, 2026. https://plos.org/publish/fees/
PLOS Computational Biology. Getting Started: Submission Guidelines and Editorial Policies. Public Library of Science. Verified November 7, 2026. https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/s/getting-started
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). PLoS Computational Biology Record (ISSN: 1553-7358). DOAJ API. Verified November 7, 2026. https://doaj.org/api/search/journals/issn:1553-7358
PLOS Computational Biology Editorial Manager. Online Manuscript Submission and Tracking System. Aries Systems. Verified November 7, 2026. https://www.editorialmanager.com/pcompbiol