Introduction
Where To Find Scientists To Collaborate?
You’ve got a great idea for scientific research, and you’re excited to get started. But how do you find the right person to work on your project? This is the question that many scientists face when they’re new to their field, and it can be a hard one! We’ve compiled some of our best tips for locating good collaborators in order to get you on your way.
Find Them Online
Especially for international scientific collaboration.
- Online
- Conferences
- Meetings
- Societies
Have you tried Collaboratory? New scientists can find collaborators, and established scientists can find new projects.
Learn About Ongoing Research In Your Field
You can find out about many kinds of research going on by looking at scientific journals or checking out the library.
One way to learn about current research is by reading scientific journals. A journal is a publication that presents research findings in a specific field and allows scientists to disseminate results. Researchers can also use journals to learn more about each other’s work.
The following are some examples of how you can learn about ongoing research:
- Find out what other scientists are working on; look at their papers, which describe their findings and methods
- Find out what is important to your field; pay attention only when someone says something interesting or important (but ignore people who talk too much)
- Find out what is not being studied; this may mean that there is an area where no one has thought of asking questions yet–so now might be the time!
Reach Out To The Experts
You are not alone. The experts in your field are a valuable resource and can help you grow your network, gain knowledge, and advance quickly in the science community. To attract their attention, try asking for help with technical problems or advice on how to navigate an unfamiliar area of research. Remember that scientists have expertise in various fields: they may be able to suggest resources that may be helpful to you or even collaborate on new projects!
If you want to get more up close and personal with a mentor or advisor (and why wouldn’t you?). Then don’t be afraid to ask them questions about their career path, their research interests, or even if there’s anything else they’d like help with right now!
Asking specific questions like these will show that not only do you value the person’s time, but also make sure they know exactly what kind of assistance they could offer. Be sure not forget about asking for feedback too; this way both parties benefit from having input into one anothers work.
Attend Professional Meetings
Attending professional meetings is an excellent way to meet people who can help you and learn about what’s happening in your field.
At a conference, you’ll get the chance to find out about new techniques, equipment, technology, ideas, applications, and research. The other attendees are often happy to offer their advice on how best to interpret your results or implement them into practice.
Seek Out Colleagues In Your Field Of Interest
If you are interested in a particular subfield or research question, find the people who are exploring it. If you’re looking to connect with other scientists who share your interests, or would like to learn more about their work and how it relates to yours. Then your best bet is typically to contact those who are working on similar problems as yourself.
For example, if you’re conducting experiments on bird migration patterns, then it makes sense for you to reach out directly (or through an intermediary) to other scientists who study birds or animal migration patterns in general.
Seek out colleagues who are working on concern sets that are related but not identical to those which interest you most closely. The same logic applies here: if two people share similar interests at some level but aren’t directly collaborating or studying things together yet (and this is generally true across most fields), then connecting them up might be beneficial for both parties involved!
Seek out colleagues who have expertise outside the field/area where everyone else seems trapped within.
When you bring people together through conversation, you never know what new insights they might gain from looking inward from a different perspective.
Conclusion
So where to find scientists to collaborate?
The take-away here is that there’s no magic secret to finding someone to collaborate with. It can be a time-consuming process for sure, but in the end you’re connecting with a fellow researcher who is eager to work with you. And mutually benefit from the fruits of your labors (not to mention make some new friends along the way).
Join Collaboratory. Meet a collaborator.