Mid-career pitfall of consecutive success in science

Abstract The creativity of scientists often manifests as localized hot streaks of significant success. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these influential phases can enhance the effectiveness of support systems and funding allocation, fostering groundbreaking discoveries worthy of accolades...

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Main Authors: Noriyuki Higashide, Takahiro Miura, Yuta Tomokiyo, Kimitaka Asatani, Ichiro Sakata
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77206-y
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author Noriyuki Higashide
Takahiro Miura
Yuta Tomokiyo
Kimitaka Asatani
Ichiro Sakata
author_facet Noriyuki Higashide
Takahiro Miura
Yuta Tomokiyo
Kimitaka Asatani
Ichiro Sakata
author_sort Noriyuki Higashide
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The creativity of scientists often manifests as localized hot streaks of significant success. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these influential phases can enhance the effectiveness of support systems and funding allocation, fostering groundbreaking discoveries worthy of accolades. Historically, analyses have suggested that hot streaks occur randomly over time. However, our research, through meticulous examination, reveals that these phases are not flatly distributed but are more frequent at the early and late stages of scientists’ careers. Notably, both early and late hot streaks are marked by dense tie collaborations, with the former typically involving close partnerships with particular authors and the latter being characterized by involvement in large-scale projects compared with single-top or ordinary papers. This pattern indicates that mid-career researchers lack both intimate relations and resources to keep big projects, leading to “mid-career pitfall” of consecutive success. This insight holds profound implications for the development of policies and initiatives aimed at bolstering innovative research and discovery.
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spelling doaj-art-d2e1ff4fd7eb435794326be751f8d0e02024-11-17T12:30:15ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111010.1038/s41598-024-77206-yMid-career pitfall of consecutive success in scienceNoriyuki Higashide0Takahiro Miura1Yuta Tomokiyo2Kimitaka Asatani3Ichiro Sakata4Department of Technology Management for Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of TokyoDepartment of Technology Management for Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of TokyoDepartment of Technology Management for Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of TokyoDepartment of Technology Management for Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of TokyoDepartment of Technology Management for Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of TokyoAbstract The creativity of scientists often manifests as localized hot streaks of significant success. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these influential phases can enhance the effectiveness of support systems and funding allocation, fostering groundbreaking discoveries worthy of accolades. Historically, analyses have suggested that hot streaks occur randomly over time. However, our research, through meticulous examination, reveals that these phases are not flatly distributed but are more frequent at the early and late stages of scientists’ careers. Notably, both early and late hot streaks are marked by dense tie collaborations, with the former typically involving close partnerships with particular authors and the latter being characterized by involvement in large-scale projects compared with single-top or ordinary papers. This pattern indicates that mid-career researchers lack both intimate relations and resources to keep big projects, leading to “mid-career pitfall” of consecutive success. This insight holds profound implications for the development of policies and initiatives aimed at bolstering innovative research and discovery.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77206-y
spellingShingle Noriyuki Higashide
Takahiro Miura
Yuta Tomokiyo
Kimitaka Asatani
Ichiro Sakata
Mid-career pitfall of consecutive success in science
Scientific Reports
title Mid-career pitfall of consecutive success in science
title_full Mid-career pitfall of consecutive success in science
title_fullStr Mid-career pitfall of consecutive success in science
title_full_unstemmed Mid-career pitfall of consecutive success in science
title_short Mid-career pitfall of consecutive success in science
title_sort mid career pitfall of consecutive success in science
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77206-y
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