Collaborative Boost: How Working Groups Enhance Scientific Careers and Promote Gender Equity in Academia
This study examines whether participating in collaborative research teams called “working groups” (WGs) benefits scientists’ careers and whether these benefits differ between men and women. Analyzing Canadian ecology and evolution faculty, we found that joining a WG accelerates a scientist’s career impact (measured by the H-index) by 14% after their first WG publication. This boost occurs equally for both genders, despite women generally having lower H-indices overall due to systemic disparities in academia.
Read this open access paper on the FACETS website.
WG papers are cited 4.4 times more than non-WG work, partly driving this boost. Surveys also revealed similar indirect benefits (e.g., collaborations, funding) for both genders. While WG participation favors researchers with stronger prior records, gender did not influence selection or benefits after accounting for experience.
The findings suggest structured collaborations like WGs can support gender equity in science by providing equal opportunities for career advancement. However, broader systemic barriers still hinder women’s progress in academia. Supporting WGs through funding and training could help align scientific progress with fair career growth for all researchers.
Read the paper — Working groups, gender, and publication impact of Canada’s ecology and evolution faculty by Qian Wei, Francois Lachapelle, Sylvia Fuller, and Diane S. Srivastava.
