Work

Early coauthorship with top scientists predicts success in academic careers

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: We examined the long-term impact of coauthorship with established, highly-cited scientists on the careers of junior researchers in four scientific disciplines. Here, using matched pair analysis, we find that junior researchers who coauthor work with top scientists enjoy a persistent competitive advantage throughout the rest of their careers, compared to peers with similar early career profiles but without top coauthors. Such early coauthorship predicts a higher probability of repeatedly coauthoring work with top-cited scientists, and, ultimately, a higher probability of becoming one. Junior researchers affiliated with less prestigious institutions show the most benefits from coauthorship with a top scientist. As a consequence, we argue that such institutions may hold vast amounts of untapped potential, which may be realised by improving access to top scientists.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13130-4

Authors: Weihua Li, Tomaso Aste, Fabio Caccioli, Giacomo Livan

Institutions: Systemic Risk Centre, University College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, London Mathematical Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: scientometrics and bibliometrics research

Subfield: Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,200

Funders: Research Councils UK, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council