Bidding
Rate how keen you are to review each paper — from Very High to Very Low — so the matching algorithm assigns you papers you want and avoids your conflicts.
Purpose
The Bidding tab lets you tell the matching algorithm which papers you'd most (and least) like to review. You place a bid on each paper from Very High to Very Low, and an affinity score suggests how well the paper matches your expertise. Good bids lead to better assignments. The tab is shown during the setup and bidding phases.
When you use it
- While bidding is open, to express your preference on the papers in the program.
- To reach the minimum number of bids your program requires.
- To flag and avoid papers where you have a conflict of interest.
Walkthrough
- 1
Open the Bidding tab. The header shows a progress bar with your bids placed versus the minimum required, the deadline, and a legend for the five bid levels (VH, H, N, L, VL). The ? icon opens an in-page bidding guide.
- 2
Browse the papers table. Each row shows the paper number, an Affinity score (0–100, the algorithm's estimate of fit), and the title. Use the filter chips (All, Not Bid, the five bid levels, and Conflicts) and the sortable column headers to focus the list, and the page-size selector and pager to move through it.
- 3
Click the download or eye (view details) button to read a paper before bidding. The details modal shows the full abstract, the affinity score, a PDF download, and its own set of bid buttons.
- 4
Place a bid by clicking one of the VH / H / N / L / VL buttons on the row (or in the details modal). Your choice is saved immediately and highlighted; the progress bar updates. Re-click a different level to change your bid.
- 5
Keep bidding until the progress bar shows you've met the minimum (it turns green and shows a check when complete).
Tips
The minimum is a floor, not a target. The more papers you bid on — especially marking the ones you'd genuinely like — the better the algorithm can match you, and the less likely you'll be assigned papers you'd rather not review.
Papers where the system detects a conflict of interest show COI instead of an affinity score and can't be bid on. Open the details to see the conflict reason. If you spot a conflict the system missed, raise it so your Area Chair can keep that paper away from you.
If the organizers haven't enabled bidding for your program, the tab shows a Bidding Not Available message instead of the papers table — papers will be assigned without a bidding round.