Rockefeller University Press AI Guidelines
Last updated: March 30, 2026
Check AI policies for below classifications
Refinement, correction, editing or formatting the manuscript to improve clarity of language
Policy Summary
Rockefeller University Press requires that the use of AI tools or LLMs to generate article content be documented in the Materials and methods section, specifying which parts were AI-assisted and which tool was used. However, it is not necessary to acknowledge the use of AI-based grammar or spelling checkers for basic language correction. Authors are accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their work, including content generated by AI models. Any AI use must not breach the publisher's plagiarism, image manipulation, or confidentiality policies.
Evidence
- The use of AI tools or LLMs to generate article content should be documented in the Materials and methods section of the manuscript. This includes reporting details on which parts of the article were generated with the assistance of AI, and details on the AI tool or LLM and version used with a description of how it was used. It is not necessary to acknowledge the use of AI-based grammar/spelling checkers or reference managers.
AI Status
Writing or drafting manuscript content
Policy Summary
Authors must ensure that submitted articles are their own work and remain accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the manuscript, including any content generated by Artificial Intelligence models such as Large Language Models (LLMs). AI tools and LLMs are not permitted to be listed as authors because they do not meet the accountability requirement. When AI tools or LLMs are used to generate article content, that use should be documented in the Materials and methods section, including what parts were AI-assisted and the tool or LLM (and version) and how it was used. The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.
Evidence
- Articles submitted must be the authors’ own work. Authors are accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their work, including content generated by Artificial Intelligence models, e.g. Large Language Models (LLMs) and similar technologies. AI tools and LLMs do not meet the requirement for accountability, so they may not be listed as authors on any article published by Journal of Cell Biology. The use of AI tools or LLMs to generate article content should be documented in the Materials and methods section of the manuscript. This includes reporting details on which parts of the article were generated with the assistance of an AI, and details on the AI tool or LLM and version used with a description of how it was used.
AI Status
Translation of manuscript text for the purpose of publishing
Policy Summary
The publisher does not provide explicit guidance on using AI for translation of manuscript text. The general RUP policy requires that AI use to generate article content be documented in the Materials and methods section, and authors are accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their work.
Evidence
- not defined
Source
Refining or formatting of data reported in the manuscript
Policy Summary
Rockefeller University Press requires authors to document the use of AI tools or LLMs in the Materials and Methods section of the manuscript, including which parts were AI-assisted and the tool and version used. Authors are accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their work, including content generated by AI models. Any AI use must not breach the publisher's plagiarism, image manipulation, or confidentiality policies.
Evidence
- Authors are accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their work, including content generated by Artificial Intelligence models, e.g. Large Language Models (LLMs) and similar technologies. The use of AI tools or LLMs to generate article content should be documented in the Materials and methods section of the manuscript. This includes reporting details on which parts of the article were generated with the assistance of AI, and details on the AI tool or LLM and version used with a description of how it was used. Any use of AI tools or LLMs must not breach Journal of Cell Biology's plagiarism, image manipulation, or confidentiality policies.
AI Status
Generation, refinement, correction, editing or formatting of images, diagrams or other figures for illustrative purposes only
Policy Summary
The publisher does not provide an AI-specific policy that explicitly addresses the generation or editing of illustrative figures. The general RUP policy states that any use of AI tools must not breach the journal's plagiarism, image manipulation, or confidentiality policies, but this refers to pre-existing image manipulation policies rather than an explicit prohibition on AI-generated illustrative figures.
Evidence
- Any use of AI tools or LLMs must not breach Journal of Cell Biology's plagiarism, image manipulation, or confidentiality policies.
Generation, refinement, correction, editing or formatting of visualisations of research data or results
Policy Summary
The publisher does not provide an AI-specific policy that explicitly addresses the generation or editing of data visualisations. The general RUP policy states that any use of AI tools must not breach the journal's plagiarism, image manipulation, or confidentiality policies, but this refers to pre-existing image manipulation policies rather than an explicit prohibition on AI-generated visualisations.
Evidence
- Any use of AI tools or LLMs must not breach Journal of Cell Biology's plagiarism, image manipulation, or confidentiality policies.
Refinement or formatting of code reported in the submitted manuscript
Policy Summary
The publisher does not provide explicit guidance on using AI to refine or format code reported in the submitted manuscript. The general RUP policy requires that AI use to generate article content be documented in the Materials and methods section, and authors are accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their work, including content generated by AI models.
Evidence
- not defined
Source
Assisting with gathering references
Policy Summary
Rockefeller University Press states that it is not necessary to acknowledge the use of AI-based reference managers when used for collecting, organizing, or managing references. For more substantive AI use in the manuscript, authors must document this in the Materials and Methods section, specifying which parts were AI-assisted and which tool was used. Authors are accountable for the accuracy and integrity of their work, including content generated by AI models.
Evidence
- It is not necessary to acknowledge the use of AI-based grammar/spelling checkers or reference managers. The use of AI tools or LLMs to generate article content should be documented in the Materials and methods section of the manuscript. This includes reporting details on which parts of the article were generated with the assistance of AI, and details on the AI tool or LLM and version used with a description of how it was used.
AI Status
Presentation of any kind of content generated by AI tools as though it were original research data/results from non-machine sources
Policy Summary
Rockefeller University Press states that submitted articles must be the authors’ own work, and that authors are accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their work, including AI-generated content. The policy advises that use of AI tools or LLMs to generate article content should be documented in the manuscript’s Materials and methods section, including which parts used AI assistance and the specific tool/version and how it was used. The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.
Evidence
- Articles submitted must be the authors’ own work. Authors are accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their work, including content generated by Artificial Intelligence models, e.g. Large Language Models (LLMs) and similar technologies. The use of AI tools or LLMs to generate article content should be documented in the Materials and methods section of the manuscript. This includes reporting details on which parts of the article were generated with the assistance of AI, and details on the AI tool or LLM and version used with a description of how it was used.
