Topic Switching in Scientific Career Growth

On why you should change research topics slowly (or choosing between the fast or slow path to success) In 25+ years as a student and a scholar, I have noticed two patterns of scholarship. The first chases new topics, in hopes of being first to market, publishing a seminal paper, and grabbing citations. That scholar often flits from topic to topic - block chain, the metaverse, generative AI. That scholar often publishes citation thirst traps - panel reports, research agendas, and literature reviews. Sometimes, that scholar is well-published and well cited. Yet, that scholar is never quite comfortable in their own skin, knowing their success depends on staying ahead of the crowd. The second moves more slowly, drinking deeply of a theory or method, developing mastery of a topic, only changing course when they find a meaningful topic. That scholar often publishes papers with a more limited audience - sometimes a small community who shares their passion for the topic. Sometimes, that scholar is well-published and well-cited, but those publications and citations come slowly, resulting from a methodical investigation of a problem. Yet, despite being slow to succeed, that scholar is comfortable in their own skin, knowing that their success is measured in the respect their peers offer - the early career and more senior - and in their contribution to solving problems. As an early career scholar, you will find yourself on either path - the quick path or the more measured one. When I stray onto the quick path, as I sometimes do, as I am human, I find the outcomes far less satisfying. The papers come more quickly, but the lessons learned feel superficial, and few people mention the papers to me. When I take the more measured path, as I do when I am more mindful, as I am still maturing, I find the outcomes far more rewarding ... the papers come more slowly, the lessons more profound, and many people mention the papers to me. So what to do? Take the measured path; it's truly the way to finding long-term satisfaction and growth as a scholar. BUT. If you find yourself on the quick one, don't regret it, learn from it, and you'll find the measured path, when you get back on it, all the more rewarding. Best of luck. #academiccareers #academiclife

🔬 New Research Alert: The Pivot Penalty in Research 📘 Published in Nature (2025) by Ryan Hill, Yian Yin, Carolyn Stein, Xizhao Wang, Dashun Wang & Benjamin F. Jones Can switching research topics hurt your impact? This new large-scale study introduces the concept of the “pivot penalty”—a measurable decline in research impact the further a scientist or inventor moves away from their previous work. 📌 Key Findings: Researchers who pivot into new areas often face steep declines in impact, including lower citation counts, reduced publication success rates, and diminished market influence. The pivot penalty is nearly universal across scientific disciplines and patenting activities. This penalty has increased over the last five decades, suggesting growing barriers to cross-disciplinary or novel work. Even external shocks (e.g., COVID-19) that push researchers to pivot show similar declines in outcomes. Larger pivots tend to suffer from weaker integration with prior knowledge and lower recognition. 🔍 The study offers a new measurement framework based on millions of papers and patents, providing crucial insight into the adaptive challenges researchers face when exploring new domains. 🎯 Implications: This has profound consequences for science policy, research funding, and academic career development. Supporting interdisciplinary exploration may require rethinking how we evaluate and reward novelty and risk in research. 📥 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dvBWSYnv 💬 How can institutions better support researchers who take bold intellectual risks? #ResearchImpact #SciencePolicy #AcademicCareers #InterdisciplinaryResearch #Innovation #PivotPenalty #Bibliometrics #ResearchTools #OpenScience

Things that are NOT written in scientific publications! 📚 Last week, we published a new article. Besides a smaller conference paper, this is the first paper from my postdoc with the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V. and Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) If you are now interested in the scientific results, you'll find a short summary at the end of this post. Here, I actually want to highlight something that is NOT written in this article. After my #PhD, which was about #research on thin and soft polymer films, I switched topics: As a #postdoc it was (and in parts still is) all about bulky and hard metal samples. This is quite a stretch and the first weeks and months with the DLR, I not only felt like an imposter, but I literally was one. But it worked out more or less as planned (there were quite some reasons to join the DLR in the first place, but this is another story). In large parts this was due to the amazing support, patience, and trust of my colleagues at the DLR, FRM II, and later on at the ILL - Institut Laue Langevin and Université Grenoble Alpes and they deserve a huge THANK YOU! 🫶🏼🥳 (And of course, I wasn't too lazy and did a lot of reading, discussions, studying, lectures, reading, talks, and more reading) When my postdoc experience taught me one thing, then it's that switching research topic is equally hard and rewarding (if you have the support from your scientific and private network). There are so many new colleagues, techniques, theories, and ideas that now provide specific value for my current and future projects. So, whenever I see this paper, I also see the strengths of our #academic system: compared to non-academic jobs, it is relatively easy to choose your topic, location, and colleagues and collaboration partners. And this is a really cool thing! 💪🏽 ---- Our article is about: 1) Some alloys do not crystallize when they are cooled down. They solidify in an amorphous state, which comes along with some unique properties Understanding the relationship between the atomic structure and dynamics in these melts upon cooling, helps to control and tune these properties. 2) The Cu-Ti system is a bit weird: Even though the atomic packing does not change much, the flow dynamics in the melt changes drastically. Apparently, this is due to chemical interactions between Cu and Ti. With x-ray and neutron scattering at ESRF - The European Synchrotron, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, and ILL we found out a lot about these interactions, but some questions still remain open, which we now try to answer by simulating the Cu-Ti system in cooperation with Université Grenoble Alpes. 3) Our study contributes to a fundamental knowledge about liquid metal alloys in general and allows for interesting comparisons with other systems (Cu-Zr, Ni-Ti, or Hf-Ni). In addition, Cu-Ti alloys are of interest for light-weight coatings that are used in the (aero)space sector. #science #research #physics

“𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝… 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲?” One of my mentees asked me this last month when she was trying to move from Ecology to Molecular Biology. She thought professors would reject her right away because her background “didn’t match.” But here’s what I told her and what I tell anyone who wants to switch fields: You don’t need to apologize for changing directions. You just need to explain it with clarity and confidence. Here’s how 1. Start with who you are Briefly say what you’re currently studying or working on keep it broad. No need to explain every field technique or molecular marker you’ve used. Professors care more about why you want to learn their field, not how much jargon you know. 2. Highlight what you’ve learned as a researcher Show that you understand the process of research itself asking questions, designing experiments, analyzing data. These skills are universal. They travel with you from soil samples to cell cultures. 3. Connect it to their work Show that you’ve done your homework mention why their research excites you, or a paper that shifted your perspective. That’s how you move from “outsider” to “potential collaborator.” 4. Acknowledge your lack of experience but flip it Say it upfront: “While my background is in ecology…” Then add: “…it has trained me to think in systems and interactions something I believe will add value in molecular biology.” See the shift? You’ve turned a “gap” into an asset. 5. End with gratitude and curiosity Thank them for their time, and ask if they’d be open to a short conversation. That one conversation can sometimes change your entire career path. My mentee followed this approach. Two weeks later, she got a response from a PI who said: “Your perspective from ecology might actually help us think about molecular regulation differently.” Switching fields isn’t a setback. It’s a sign that you’re growing. If you’re planning to switch fields and want to craft that perfect first email to a professor drop a "Switch" below. I’ll share the exact message that helped her make the leap. #PhD #research #academia #studyabroad

How to explain why you are changing from one field to another in your SOP Explaining your reasons for switching from one field to another in your SOP requires honesty, transparency, and a clear demonstration of your passion for the new field. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. Acknowledge your previous field: Begin by acknowledging your previous field of study or work experience and the skills and knowledge you gained. This shows that you value your past experiences and are not simply abandoning them. 2. Identify the turning point: Explain the moment or realization that sparked your interest in the new field. This could be an inspiring lecture, a personal experience, or a newfound passion for a particular subject. 3. Highlight the transferable skills: Emphasize the skills and knowledge you acquired in your previous field that are transferable to the new field. This demonstrates your adaptability and ability to apply your expertise in different contexts. 4. Connect the dots: Draw a clear connection between your previous experiences and your aspirations in the new field. Show how your past has prepared you for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. 5. Express genuine passion: Convey your genuine enthusiasm and passion for the new field. This will convince the admissions committee that you are committed to pursuing this path and have the motivation to succeed. 6. Use specific examples: Provide specific examples of how your previous experiences have shaped your interest in the new field. This will add credibility and depth to your explanation. 7. Address any gaps: If there are any apparent gaps in your knowledge or experience, acknowledge them and explain how you plan to bridge those gaps. This shows your self-awareness and willingness to learn. 8. Maintain a positive tone: Avoid negative language or criticism of your previous field. Instead, focus on highlighting the positive aspects of your journey and how it has led you to the new field. Lastly, the key to explaining your reasons for switching fields is to demonstrate a clear understanding of both your past and your future.

When I started my postdoc in Italy, everything made sense. I had my routine down - cancer metabolism research, mentoring students, regular publications. I knew the players, the processes, even had my favorite coffee spot near the lab. Then I packed up for Canada and felt like a complete beginner again. Different field (hello, immunology!), different language nuances, different everything. Even lab meetings ran differently. Here’s what I learned from doing two postdocs in two very different countries: 🪴1. Getting uncomfortable = getting better. Switching from metabolism to immunology was terrifying. But having to rebuild my expertise from the ground up made me a sharper scientist. Sometimes you need to feel lost to find a better path. 🌍2. Science speaks the same language, but scientists don't. The research principles were universal, but how people gave feedback, handled deadlines, or pitched ideas? Totally different cultural codes. Learning to navigate both made me way more adaptable. 🤝3. Your network will save you. Starting over in a new country reminded me how much we depend on our people - mentors, lab mates, that one person who explains the bureaucracy. Don't underestimate community. 🧠4. Imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear: it evolves. I used to think it would go away once I "knew enough." Nope. But I learned to channel it into curiosity instead of paralysis: simple, but not easy. If you're considering an international move in your career - do it. Not because it's comfortable (it's not), but because it'll stretch you in ways you can't imagine. Sometimes the best growth happens when you're rebuilding from scratch. Have you done research or worked in more than one country? I’d love to hear your experience. What surprised you most? #postdoclife #careerchange #phdlife #researchjourney #internationalresearch #softskills #academiclife #lifelessons #scientificcommunity #growthmindset #phdabroad #postdocabroad