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As a new investigator, you
may be very enthusiastic
about the idea of establishing
collaborations. Teaming up with
other researchers can help you access
expertise and specialized equipment, get
more publications and even write stronger
grant proposals. However, despite the benefits,
a scientific collaboration is a huge responsibility that
comes with potential risks to consider. Here are some
questions you should ask yourself to help you decide whether or
not to join a research collaboration.
Decide if collaborations
are helpful or hurtful
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What are the
benefits of a
collaboration?
Start by defining how much you need
this particular collaboration to move your
own research forward. Will it allow you
to contribute to creative science or is it
just about getting access to samples or
equipment? Remember, collaborators are
not service providers or customers.
Is the potential collaborator reliable?
There are some essential qualities that you may want to seek out in a person before
signing onto a collaboration:
Honesty about their work and their involvement in the project
Respect for your work and contributions
Fairness in getting credit in publications and other communications
Openness to accessibility to one another and commitment to good scientific
practices
If you don't know the person, ask someone you trust to advise you on the reliability
of the collaboration.
