Early coauthorship with top scientists predicts success in academic careers

Weihua Li, Tomaso Aste, Fabio Caccioli and Giacomo Livan ()
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Weihua Li: University College London
Tomaso Aste: University College London
Fabio Caccioli: University College London
Giacomo Livan: University College London

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13130-4

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