It helps in forging ties that might be useful in the future. But most people find it very difficult to find good, and trustworthy research collaborators. This is not impossible though. It’s because you need to set some clear objectives and milestones within this context. This article aims to help you find research collaborators. It will provide guidelines on how can you grow your research network as well.
Live Networking
Sometimes we have to come out of our comfort zones to meet new people. This live networking can occur in conferences, seminars, dinners, or other social events. You can also interact with colleagues at your institution. Let us discuss in detail how can you benefit from conferences. Chances are that you might find your research collaborator at a meeting. And although this sounds strange, it has a high probability of happening.Conferences
Generally, we stick to our group at conferences and do not mingle with strangers. We only go to the conferences with people we already know and don’t even try to meet new people. But meeting new people at conferences can be your opportunity in terms of identifying your desired research collaborator. To ensure this, you should follow the following tips to increase your networking skills at conferences;- Initiate conversations with strangers at the conference.
- Strike up conversations with people who are alone.
- Conversations could be about the conference, or you can try to find mutual interests.
- Acknowledge the work of others, and praise them for their work if you’ve read any.
- Do not make the conversations only about yourself. Ask them their interests, and try to build a relationship with them.
- Exchange contacts, and make sure to send them a follow-up email.
- Add them to your LinkedIn network.
Networking Events:
You can also try going to the networking events conducted by various organisations. This is because there are greater chances of finding research collaborators at such events. People who come to such events share similar interests. Therefore, it is easy to mingle with them too. It would be best if you let go of your fears and come out of your comfort zone for meeting new people. Doing this will surely increase your networking circle. You may also find a research collaborator with relevant expertise, and skills that you’re looking for.Also Read This: How To Improve Class Participation
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the most effective tool for connecting with people professionally. You can connect with renowned researchers across the globe by sending them a request. You can also add those people that you already know. Search for people from your field, and connect with them. You can also check their posts to see if they’re trying to find research collaborators.
Twitter
You can also use Twitter for connecting with academics and researchers with whom you wish to collaborate. You can attract attention by tweeting about any recent breakthroughs, or discoveries in your field too. You can also spread the news about your recent publications. If you tweet about your recent publications, there is a greater chance of attracting research collaborators. You can also tweet about your plans, or ideas regarding the research you want to conduct.
Social Media
According to Research paper writing help experts, social media is an effective tool for finding research collaborators. Let us discuss in detail which social media forums can be used for growing your network;ResearchGate
ResearchGate is a free platform for academics where they can share their publications. It allows the researchers to update their resumes. You can discuss ideas and research interests with other academics. Strike up conversations with other researchers, and see if they have similar research interests.Piirus
In 2011, the University of Warwick started this platform to help researchers connect with each other. It is an online tool that helps researchers in building their networks. It connects researchers with others who might be working on a similar topic.Networking can give you an edge within the academic community. It does so by increasing your chances of meeting potential collaborators. Collaboration facilitates knowledge transfer and contributes a lot to the generation of new ideas. In essence, research is a collaborative effort that requires sharing ideas to comprehend the world. Finding suitable research collaborators makes your work visible to the academic community in general. It also helps in the growth of your career, and when you want to get grants and funding. Live networking and social media can help you grow your networking circle with ease. Trying the tips mentioned above will have other researchers recognise your work. There is a very good chance of finding someone who will collaborate with you on a research paper as well.