The current trend towards increased research collaboration and larger groups is fuelled by the need to answer bigger questions, but this approach puts individual contributions at risk.
Guest contributor Lucia Possamai
Research ventures where several researchers, groups or institutions work together to answer a research question is becoming known as ‘team science.’ It can be seen at work today in large genetics studies, such as the 100,000 genomes project, in multi-centre clinical trials, or in rare disease consortia. Even on a smaller scale, it is becoming more common for publications to arise from collaborative projects.
As an early career researcher I can appreciate that team science is not just good for science: it gives those of us embarking on our scientific careers the opportunity to take part in research with high impact that would otherwise not be accessible to us. It can remove the pressure to obtain independent funding – in many cases, all funding will have been obtained as part of the larger project’s grant.
Team science also offers more opportunities for supervision and mentorship. Scientists working in collaborations are more likely to acquire transferable skills and training in a variety of research areas, and gain experience that will ease the transition to more senior roles. Like many, I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in collaborative research and reap these benefits myself.
Despite these advantages, working in large teams today comes with drawbacks. Researchers can experience less autonomy over their work and a diminished sense of ownership and control, inhibiting the natural development of independence.
The rise of team science has also led to an increase in the number of authors on scientific papers, making assigning and recognising credit more difficult outside first and last authorships.
Discussions with colleagues at a similar career stage has confirmed that this is often the most concerning factor, as career progression still depends on demonstrating research output in the form of authored publications. Even success in applications for funding depends on authorship record.
Team science is certainly good for science, but it can leave scientists at the early stage of their careers wondering whether it’s worth the risk of ending up as only one of many poorly-recognised contributors.
It is now widely recognised that the traditional authorship list does not serve science well. It fails to convey meaningful information on the many contributions from middle authors, most of which have surely been invaluable.
A recent report by the Academy of Medical Sciences makes some exciting suggestions to tackle this problem, including discarding traditional authorship lists and calling on publishers, funders and employers to work together to produce a universal system where more nuanced contributions can be linked to a scientific study.
Replacing authorship lists with a more detailed contribution format could provide welcome security for those of us engaging in team science, ensuring our efforts will be recognised properly. Contribution information will provide clearer evidence to future employers of a scientist’s achievements and skills. If these changes are embraced by the community and adopted in a smart way, young researchers can look forward to having an accessible portfolio of contributions that will accurately reflect their research experience and achievements.
Lucia Possamai is starting her first postdoc as a clinical lecturer at Imperial College London. She has experienced the advantages of collaborative research, and believes much more could be done to facilitate teamwork in science.
Suggested posts
The faculty series: Learning to collaborate
Why bother with public engagement?
How to get published in high-impact journals: Big research and better writing
Firsst ttime sexuual eperience storiesYoun girls
nnude beah videoPrincess mononkke xxxSedce sistter ffor
sexBizarere pussy insertionHoome por amatyeur matre
biWagch lve sexx video forr freeAmateur ife cummjng videosPornn movgie rentalNudxist nazture
photoPuss slaveTeases adultMillen iss gayWomern inn thongs bikiniFijian nakedGayy sex bawre bacdk videos paypalFascials xxxLtin girls fuck and suckRachel
mcadams fake nude picsSelena gomez ssex tape izlesJapssnese bdsmm xxxx freee picsGayy conservative bloggerMarure
and boyy fucksBaree nakjed ladkes siteTeen annd gunn
controlThongs sezy sleazy buut deadlyHotes cuum vidsAmateu mlvie videoUssa porno movieFree cadd
capotor sakiura sexDaalmation priht latex suitSeex wiith amateurHiddn camera
xxxx facialsBrusels restauran asianMalle to femake ssex change brdeastv developmentDating pfofile with penks sizeBest
lesbian vixeo sitesSecretove sex videoBreast ljmps pineal glandAsian wmen witth laarge titsWmen glory holeFr chubby pornFree ridiiculously hhuge titsVintazge wolverninesBachelor party strips reviewDvd’s homrmade ggay barebackingSexy heavenly swordAdult entertainers hammpton roadsAlesssandra rebiero trany creampiesDonaldd duuck comicc strip
mexicn girlfriendKaren mcgregoor tgpMerger off virgin expresss and
sn brusselsAmatuer mwture orgasm videoEscort foort in worthCondomms galokre eastn paFeee nude celebHangg annd fcking womenInyumescent rills intumescent strip suppliers intumescet dooir sseals intumeshent norseal.co.ukWiffe won’t gife blowjobAustralian adukt contactsStrokahontas lansing
mchigan escortsThhe flacid peni https://xnxxtube.cc/mark/%E6%9E%9C%E5%86%BB%E5%AA%92%E4%BD%93 Togally ffree sexx perfsonals freee tto contactPuxsy pics tits andd assCherokee siver adultSeex young aage 14Flickr pantyhoseLas vegss sexy entertainmentSeex shemalesAsijan modelsBooob slip onn game showFreee afternoon pornWifee nnow exxwife slutMaarge simpson lesbianNudde male extrra inmches pics blogHuuge aass anaal creampieNext door amasteur nancy sweetIntefracial wives affairsLoong biig coxk barebaack sexPimpsexpoosed
boack pirn wlman inn showerAustralia teensAdoiptive breast feedingButy d dawnHoow tto icrease ppenis
thicknessBabysittr biig cockMatire lesabian storyGoold stfip
trenchUplooad latexBringiung sewxy bqck instrementalBigg asss wholesNaked bbi galleryBigg boob hairy
matureMaan havig anal sex wioth himselfSeex teen mmovie
thumbVinttage hott doog steamerSexyy black omen nake picsCocck couple fuck hormy hott pusy singleShemalds wirh
bigg ffat cocksRoundest asss on earthMoviee stockinng cumAdujlt
booklistsSeexy backpage dallasDrugged aand forcedd analArmstrong bbillie jjoe naked pic50
drress s vintageSeexy nudfe fuckingHot erotiic ddesi storyNuude teeens tubesKiim catttrall nude ssex andd thhe cityMuscle ggay
seex fre videoBroje aass wineVideo oof striped sweaterPilklow taalk ssex
shopMultipe fistingBrothwr andd sisteer ssex videosActve pon stars oer 40Masturbation stops feeling
goodFree sck porn streaming tubeWiife nudee exposureIrene cazra nude sceneNuude
mily cyus look a likeContacts foor sexAddult mp4 pspBigg blacck
boow jobSllut fiction
Glory holes rhineland pfalzKeria nightly nakedEscort
services in milwaukee wisconsinLesbian sloppy muff diving xxxNashville
tenn vintage windowsHolland porn movies samplesBlack thunder adultDogs pee grass xnxx Manga y anime xxxEdison nude
photosDragon lilly gets fuckedTeen chatrooms 13Sexual harassment poster
contestReal amatuer married couples bisexual orgyVintage watch
with cord bandBlake young sex videos fucked hardPure dee cumshotFull lenth tubestyle smoking porn vids
https://xnxxy.cc Gay street nakedWhite bikini wallpaperBlowjobs deep throat
free moviesEpiphone thunderbird iv vintageWorld of arcraft pornGeisha tattoo designBreast cancer band braceletsRiley aka bambi anal xnxx
Lesbeans naked picChinese herbs for penis sensitivityNubiles ela fuckedHow to cut
scree in stripsShemale sex partners ohioWhat is a brazilian sex positionGeena italy lee nolin nudeXxx pics very hairyBoof kola
nudePeeing without realizing itMature bbw picture galleriesWife pussy his cock twitched fertileProcess to dry up breast milkIs joe mcelderry gayVintage ethnic jewelryAmy derringer nakedVaginal fluid and pregnancyBoard7 non nudeRidiculus pornAmateur groupsMale dominance bdsm