Introduction
Finding collaborators for research is an incredibly important part of the scientific process.
Your experiment is nearly complete, you’re putting together your results, and everything seems to be coming together for publication. Now all you need are some collaborators to support your work! But how do you find collaborators? As it turns out, there are many things you can do to find potential collaborators at conferences and beyond. Here are some methods that have worked well for many research scientists.
Meet People at Conferences
Your next step should be to meet people at in-person conferences. This can be a challenge. It’s usually easier to meet people if you’re in the same field as they are, but it can also be helpful to get outside your comfort zone and meet someone who’s different from you. If you come across an interesting paper or blog post while researching, look up the author and see if they have a website or Twitter account where you can reach out directly (or through their department).
If all else fails, save every email address that looks promising, then periodically send them notes about exciting research or opportunities for collaboration that match your interests. You won’t know whether these efforts will pay off until later on down the road.
Go to as Many Talks as You Can
Finding collaborators for research is a great way to make sure you’re working on the right projects and with the right people. You should go to as many talks as you can. They will be an opportunity for you to network with other researchers and meet people who are working on similar things in the same field. At these events, it will also help if you wear a name tag that says “Hi! I’m [your name], and I’m looking for collaborators.” It’s better than just standing there awkwardly while other people talk about their research interests.
As a general rule of thumb, try not to limit yourself to just one specific type of talk. Instead, go out of your way to get exposure to different kinds of research and different types of people.
Be Interested and Open
- Be interested in other people’s work.
- Be open to collaboration.
- Be open to hearing about other people’s research.
- Be open to sharing your own research, ideas, and data with others who are willing to do the same.
Ask for Business Cards
If you can, ask for their business card. It’s easy to remember someone’s name if you have their email address and/or a business card. If you can’t get a business card, try asking for an email address instead.
Ask questions that will help you memorize the person’s name (and other information). For example: “What’s your favorite restaurant in the city?” or “Where did we meet again?”
Follow Up by Emailing Them and Finding a Connection
After you’ve met with a collaborator, it’s important to follow up by emailing them and finding a connection. This way, they have your contact information and can reach out to you if they have any questions or concerns about the project.
The best time to do this is immediately after meeting in person, but if circumstances don’t permit that, then send it as soon as possible within the week. In your message, thank them for their time and let them know how much you enjoyed talking to them! If possible, include something personal about yourself so that they feel like this is an actual person rather than just another generic email from someone who wants their help (which is exactly what we want).
Go to Networking Sessions at Conferences
One of the best ways to find collaborators is by attending networking events. At these sessions, you meet people who are interested in the same things as you, or in your field of study. You can also go to networking events for specific research topics or areas of interest. Researching a topic? Find out if there are any conferences on that subject happening near you and attend it.
In addition to conferences, there are also many professional organizations that have regular meetings where members get together to discuss their research.
Attend Panel Sessions on Common Research Topics
If you’re looking for collaborators, one of the best ways to find them is through panels. This is especially true if you are interested in a specific research topic. Panel sessions tend to bring together experts who have experience on that topic and make it easy for you to strike up conversations with them. To keep up with the conversation, check out the conference schedule.
Once you know which panels interest you, send an email asking if there is room for one more person at their table during that session (you don’t need an official invite—just ask!).
It’s helpful if your email includes information about yourself. They can get a sense of why they might want to work with someone like yourself (e.g., “I am finishing my dissertation this year,” “I just graduated last year,” etc.).
Do not expect everyone on these panels to be open-minded or willing to collaborate; some people may just want another audience member without making any commitments aside from showing up at the panel session itself. However, many others will be excited about having extra help with their research projects and may even extend offers for further collaboration throughout the conference.
Ask Questions After the Talks at Conferences
Asking questions is one of the most important skills you can develop, and it’s crucial to do so when you’re at conferences. Ask questions that are relevant to the topic and specific—not too broad or vague. If you don’t understand a point, ask the speaker to clarify it for you.
Ask specific questions that show how much you care about what they’re talking about and showing an interest in who they are as individuals. It is also critical, because speaking with another person on a personal level can help build trust between researchers and their collaborators.
Asking good questions isn’t just useful for getting information from speakers; there’s also an opportunity for them to learn from your expertise.
Find Collaborators Online
Use Collaboratory, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Collaboratory helps scientists discover and connect to potential collaborators. It’s a great way to find people who can help with your projects.
It’s Important to Know How to Make Connections When You’re Doing Research
Asking for help is a skill that can be learned. It’s important to know how to make connections when you’re doing research, whether you’re looking for collaborators or sources of data.
Collaborators are a crucial part of doing research. Even if you’re the type who prefers to work alone, you’re going to have to collaborate at some point. If you want to be able to work with other scientists and scientists in other fields, it’s essential to know how to make connections.
Conclusion
It’s critical to put yourself out there and make connections, especially when you’re doing research. It can be hard to meet people who share your interests, but it’s a great way to build a professional network that will help you find those collaborators.