Venue Templates Overview
Access comprehensive LaTeX templates, formatting requirements, and submission guidelines for major scientific publication venues, academic conferences, research posters, and grant proposals. This skill provides ready-to-use templates and detailed specifications for successful academic submissions across disciplines.
Use this skill when preparing manuscripts for journal submission, conference papers, research posters, or grant proposals and need venue-specific formatting requirements and templates.
When to Use This Skill
This skill should be used when:
Preparing a manuscript for submission to a specific journal (Nature, Science, PLOS, IEEE, etc.) Writing a conference paper with specific formatting requirements (NeurIPS, ICML, CHI, etc.) Creating an academic research poster for conferences Drafting grant proposals for federal agencies (NSF, NIH, DOE, DARPA) or private foundations Checking formatting requirements and page limits for target venues Customizing templates with author information and project details Verifying document compliance with venue specifications Visual Enhancement with Scientific Schematics
When creating documents with this skill, always consider adding scientific diagrams and schematics to enhance visual communication.
If your document does not already contain schematics or diagrams:
Use the scientific-schematics skill to generate AI-powered publication-quality diagrams Simply describe your desired diagram in natural language Nano Banana Pro will automatically generate, review, and refine the schematic
For new documents: Scientific schematics should be generated by default to visually represent key concepts, workflows, architectures, or relationships described in the text.
How to generate schematics:
python scripts/generate_schematic.py "your diagram description" -o figures/output.png
The AI will automatically:
Create publication-quality images with proper formatting Review and refine through multiple iterations Ensure accessibility (colorblind-friendly, high contrast) Save outputs in the figures/ directory
When to add schematics:
Methodology flowcharts for papers Conceptual framework diagrams System architecture illustrations Data flow diagrams Experimental design visualizations Research workflow diagrams Any complex concept that benefits from visualization
For detailed guidance on creating schematics, refer to the scientific-schematics skill documentation.
Core Capabilities 1. Journal Article Templates
Access LaTeX templates and formatting guidelines for 50+ major scientific journals across disciplines:
Nature Portfolio:
Nature, Nature Methods, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Machine Intelligence Nature Communications, Nature Protocols Scientific Reports
Science Family:
Science, Science Advances, Science Translational Medicine Science Immunology, Science Robotics
PLOS (Public Library of Science):
PLOS ONE, PLOS Biology, PLOS Computational Biology PLOS Medicine, PLOS Genetics
Cell Press:
Cell, Neuron, Immunity, Cell Reports Molecular Cell, Developmental Cell
IEEE Publications:
IEEE Transactions (various disciplines) IEEE Access, IEEE Journal templates
ACM Publications:
ACM Transactions, Communications of the ACM ACM conference proceedings
Other Major Publishers:
Springer journals (various disciplines) Elsevier journals (custom templates) Wiley journals BMC journals Frontiers journals 2. Conference Paper Templates
Conference-specific templates with proper formatting for major academic conferences:
Machine Learning & AI:
NeurIPS (Neural Information Processing Systems) ICML (International Conference on Machine Learning) ICLR (International Conference on Learning Representations) CVPR (Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition) AAAI (Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence)
Computer Science:
ACM CHI (Human-Computer Interaction) SIGKDD (Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining) EMNLP (Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing) SIGIR (Information Retrieval) USENIX conferences
Biology & Bioinformatics:
ISMB (Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology) RECOMB (Research in Computational Molecular Biology) PSB (Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing)
Engineering:
IEEE conference templates (various disciplines) ASME, AIAA conferences 3. Research Poster Templates
Academic poster templates for conference presentations:
Standard Formats:
A0 (841 × 1189 mm / 33.1 × 46.8 in) A1 (594 × 841 mm / 23.4 × 33.1 in) 36" × 48" (914 × 1219 mm) - Common US size 42" × 56" (1067 × 1422 mm) 48" × 36" (landscape orientation)
Template Packages:
beamerposter: Classic academic poster template tikzposter: Modern, colorful poster design baposter: Structured multi-column layout
Design Features:
Optimal font sizes for readability at distance Color schemes (colorblind-safe palettes) Grid layouts and column structures QR code integration for supplementary materials 4. Grant Proposal Templates
Templates and formatting requirements for major funding agencies:
NSF (National Science Foundation):
Full proposal template (15-page project description) Project Summary (1 page: Overview, Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts) Budget and budget justification Biographical sketch (3-page limit) Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources Data Management Plan
NIH (National Institutes of Health):
R01 Research Grant (multi-year) R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant K Awards (Career Development) Specific Aims Page (1 page, most critical component) Research Strategy (Significance, Innovation, Approach) Biographical sketches (5-page limit)
DOE (Department of Energy):
Office of Science proposals ARPA-E templates Technology Readiness Level (TRL) descriptions Commercialization and impact sections
DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency):
BAA (Broad Agency Announcement) responses Heilmeier Catechism framework Technical approach and milestones Transition planning
Private Foundations:
Gates Foundation Wellcome Trust Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) Workflow: Finding and Using Templates Step 1: Identify Target Venue
Determine the specific publication venue, conference, or funding agency:
Example queries: - "I need to submit to Nature" - "What are the requirements for NeurIPS 2025?" - "Show me NSF proposal formatting" - "I'm creating a poster for ISMB"
Step 2: Query Template and Requirements
Access venue-specific templates and formatting guidelines:
For Journals:
Load journal formatting requirements
Reference: references/journals_formatting.md Search for: "Nature" or specific journal name
Retrieve template
Template: assets/journals/nature_article.tex
For Conferences:
Load conference formatting
Reference: references/conferences_formatting.md Search for: "NeurIPS" or specific conference
Retrieve template
Template: assets/journals/neurips_article.tex
For Posters:
Load poster guidelines
Reference: references/posters_guidelines.md
Retrieve template
Template: assets/posters/beamerposter_academic.tex
For Grants:
Load grant requirements
Reference: references/grants_requirements.md Search for: "NSF" or specific agency
Retrieve template
Template: assets/grants/nsf_proposal_template.tex
Step 3: Review Formatting Requirements
Check critical specifications before customizing:
Key Requirements to Verify:
Page limits (varies by venue) Font size and family Margin specifications Line spacing Citation style (APA, Vancouver, Nature, etc.) Figure/table requirements File format (PDF, Word, LaTeX source) Anonymization (for double-blind review) Supplementary material limits Step 4: Customize Template
Use helper scripts or manual customization:
Option 1: Helper Script (Recommended):
python scripts/customize_template.py \ --template assets/journals/nature_article.tex \ --title "Your Paper Title" \ --authors "First Author, Second Author" \ --affiliations "University Name" \ --output my_nature_paper.tex
Option 2: Manual Editing:
Open template file Replace placeholder text (marked with comments) Fill in title, authors, affiliations, abstract Add your content to each section Step 5: Validate Format
Check compliance with venue requirements:
python scripts/validate_format.py \ --file my_paper.pdf \ --venue "Nature" \ --check-all
Validation Checks:
Page count within limits Font sizes correct Margins meet specifications References formatted correctly Figures meet resolution requirements Step 6: Compile and Review
Compile LaTeX and review output:
Compile LaTeX
pdflatex my_paper.tex bibtex my_paper pdflatex my_paper.tex pdflatex my_paper.tex
Or use latexmk for automated compilation
latexmk -pdf my_paper.tex
Review checklist:
All sections present and properly formatted Citations render correctly Figures appear with proper captions Page count within limits Author guidelines followed Supplementary materials prepared (if needed) Integration with Other Skills
This skill works seamlessly with other scientific skills:
Scientific Writing Use scientific-writing skill for content guidance (IMRaD structure, clarity, precision) Apply venue-specific templates from this skill for formatting Combine for complete manuscript preparation Literature Review Use literature-review skill for systematic literature search and synthesis Apply appropriate citation style from venue requirements Format references according to template specifications Peer Review Use peer-review skill to evaluate manuscript quality Use this skill to verify formatting compliance Ensure adherence to reporting guidelines (CONSORT, STROBE, etc.) Research Grants Cross-reference with research-grants skill for content strategy Use this skill for agency-specific templates and formatting Combine for comprehensive grant proposal preparation LaTeX Posters This skill provides venue-agnostic poster templates Use for conference-specific poster requirements Integrate with visualization skills for figure creation Template Categories By Document Type Category Template Count Common Venues Journal Articles 30+ Nature, Science, PLOS, IEEE, ACM, Cell Press Conference Papers 20+ NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR, CHI, ISMB Research Posters 10+ A0, A1, 36×48, various packages Grant Proposals 15+ NSF, NIH, DOE, DARPA, foundations By Discipline Discipline Supported Venues Life Sciences Nature, Cell Press, PLOS, ISMB, RECOMB Physical Sciences Science, Physical Review, ACS, APS Engineering IEEE, ASME, AIAA, ACM Computer Science ACM, IEEE, NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR Medicine NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, BMJ Interdisciplinary PNAS, Nature Communications, Science Advances Helper Scripts query_template.py
Search and retrieve templates by venue name, type, or keywords:
Find templates for a specific journal
python scripts/query_template.py --venue "Nature" --type "article"
Search by keyword
python scripts/query_template.py --keyword "machine learning"
List all available templates
python scripts/query_template.py --list-all
Get requirements for a venue
python scripts/query_template.py --venue "NeurIPS" --requirements
customize_template.py
Customize templates with author and project information:
Basic customization
python scripts/customize_template.py \ --template assets/journals/nature_article.tex \ --output my_paper.tex
With author information
python scripts/customize_template.py \ --template assets/journals/nature_article.tex \ --title "Novel Approach to Protein Folding" \ --authors "Jane Doe, John Smith, Alice Johnson" \ --affiliations "MIT, Stanford, Harvard" \ --email "[email protected]" \ --output my_paper.tex
Interactive mode
python scripts/customize_template.py --interactive
validate_format.py
Check document compliance with venue requirements:
Validate a compiled PDF
python scripts/validate_format.py \ --file my_paper.pdf \ --venue "Nature" \ --check-all
Check specific aspects
python scripts/validate_format.py \ --file my_paper.pdf \ --venue "NeurIPS" \ --check page-count,margins,fonts
Generate validation report
python scripts/validate_format.py \ --file my_paper.pdf \ --venue "Science" \ --report validation_report.txt
Best Practices Template Selection Verify currency: Check template date and compare with latest author guidelines Check official sources: Many journals provide official LaTeX classes Test compilation: Compile template before adding content Read comments: Templates include helpful inline comments Customization Preserve structure: Don't remove required sections or packages Follow placeholders: Replace marked placeholder text systematically Maintain formatting: Don't override venue-specific formatting Keep backups: Save original template before customization Compliance Check page limits: Verify before final submission Validate citations: Use correct citation style for venue Test figures: Ensure figures meet resolution requirements Review anonymization: Remove identifying information if required Submission Follow instructions: Read complete author guidelines Include all files: LaTeX source, figures, bibliography Generate properly: Use recommended compilation method Check output: Verify PDF matches expectations Common Formatting Requirements Page Limits (Typical) Venue Type Typical Limit Notes Nature Article 5 pages ~3000 words excluding refs Science Report 5 pages Figures count toward limit PLOS ONE No limit Unlimited length NeurIPS 8 pages + unlimited refs/appendix ICML 8 pages + unlimited refs/appendix NSF Proposal 15 pages Project description only NIH R01 12 pages Research strategy Citation Styles by Venue Venue Citation Style Format Nature Numbered (superscript) Nature style Science Numbered (superscript) Science style PLOS Numbered (brackets) Vancouver Cell Press Author-year Cell style ACM Numbered ACM style IEEE Numbered (brackets) IEEE style APA journals Author-year APA 7th Figure Requirements Venue Resolution Format Color Nature 300+ dpi TIFF, EPS, PDF RGB or CMYK Science 300+ dpi TIFF, PDF RGB PLOS 300-600 dpi TIFF, EPS RGB IEEE 300+ dpi EPS, PDF RGB or Grayscale Resources Bundled Resources
References (in references/):
journals_formatting.md: Comprehensive journal formatting requirements conferences_formatting.md: Conference paper specifications posters_guidelines.md: Research poster design and sizing grants_requirements.md: Grant proposal requirements by agency
Templates (in assets/):
journals/: Journal article LaTeX templates posters/: Research poster templates grants/: Grant proposal templates
Scripts (in scripts/):
query_template.py: Search and retrieve templates customize_template.py: Customize with author info validate_format.py: Check compliance with requirements External Resources
Journal Author Guidelines:
Nature: https://www.nature.com/nature/for-authors Science: https://www.science.org/content/page/instructions-authors PLOS: https://plos.org/resources/for-authors/ Cell Press: https://www.cell.com/author-guidelines
Conference Formatting:
NeurIPS: https://neurips.cc/Conferences/2024/CallForPapers ICML: https://icml.cc/Conferences/2024/StyleAuthorInstructions CVPR: https://cvpr.thecvf.com/Conferences/2024/AuthorGuidelines
Grant Resources:
NSF PAPPG: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg NIH Forms: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.html DOE Funding: https://science.osti.gov/grants Example Usage Example 1: Nature Article Submission User: "I need to prepare a manuscript for Nature"
Response: 1. Load Nature formatting requirements (references/journals_formatting.md) 2. Retrieve Nature template (assets/journals/nature_article.tex) 3. Key requirements: - Length: ~3000 words, ~5 pages - Format: Single column, 12pt font - Citations: Numbered superscript (Nature style) - Figures: 300+ dpi, RGB color 4. Customize template with your title, authors, affiliations 5. Compile and validate against requirements
Example 2: NeurIPS Conference Paper User: "What are the formatting requirements for NeurIPS?"
Response: From references/conferences_formatting.md: - Page limit: 8 pages main text + unlimited references/appendix - Format: Two-column, 10pt font - Template: neurips_2024.sty (official style file) - Anonymization: Required for initial submission - Citations: Numbered (brackets) - Figures: High resolution, colorblind-safe recommended
Example 3: NSF Proposal User: "Help me format an NSF proposal"
Response: NSF requirements (from references/grants_requirements.md): - Project Description: 15 pages maximum - Project Summary: 1 page (Overview, Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts) - Budget Justification: 3-5 pages - Biographical Sketch: 3 pages per senior personnel - Font: Minimum 10pt, Times Roman or similar - Margins: 1 inch all sides Template: assets/grants/nsf_proposal_template.tex
Example 4: Conference Poster User: "I need to create a poster for ISMB"
Response: ISMB poster specifications: - Size: Typically A0 portrait (33.1 × 46.8 inches) - Recommended template: beamerposter or tikzposter - Font sizes: Title 60-85pt, Headers 36-48pt, Body 24-32pt - Include: QR code for paper/supplementary materials Available templates: - assets/posters/beamerposter_academic.tex - assets/posters/tikzposter_research.tex
Updates and Maintenance
Template Currency:
Templates updated annually or when venues release new guidelines Last updated: 2024 Check official venue sites for most current requirements
Reporting Issues:
Template compilation errors Outdated formatting requirements Missing venue templates Incorrect specifications Summary
The venue-templates skill provides comprehensive access to:
50+ publication venue templates across disciplines Detailed formatting requirements for journals, conferences, posters, grants Helper scripts for template discovery, customization, and validation Integration with other scientific writing skills Best practices for successful academic submissions
Use this skill whenever you need venue-specific formatting guidance or templates for academic publishing.