Specialization and the road to academic success
File Type:
Microsoft WordItem Type:
Journal ArticleDate:
2011Citation:
Belmaker, J., Cooper, N., Lee, T.M. & Wilman, H., Specialization and the road to academic success, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 8, 2011, 514 515Download Item:
Belmaker et al 2011 FEE.doc (Accepted for publication (author's copy) - Peer Reviewed) 196Kb
Abstract:
The relative merits of focusing research on few areas of science versus generalizing across topics have important implications for how academics conduct science. Little is known, however, about how research breadth and academic success are related. Drawing on data from more than 4000 ecologists and evolutionary biologists worldwide, we show that highest academic success is achieved at intermediate levels of research breadth. This suggests that being a "jack of all trades" or an overly narrow specialist could both be detrimental to long term academic success.
Sponsor
Grant Number
Seessel Postdoctoral Fellowship
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/ncooperDescription:
PUBLISHEDPublisher:
Ecological Society of AmericaType of material:
Journal ArticleSeries/Report no:
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment;8Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
academia, H index, research, academic successLicences: