Q3: I consider collaboration a source of inspiration and collegiality as well as functionally important. At the beginning of my career, am I better off seeking collaborations, avoiding them in the name of independence, or placing myself somewhere on a continuum between the two?

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Q3: I consider collaboration a source of inspiration and collegiality as well as functionally important. At the beginning of my career, am I better off seeking collaborations, avoiding them in the name of independence, or placing myself somewhere on a continuum between the two?

When I was young I did straight chemistry projects and focused on independence. Funding preferences then changed. As a synthetic chemist, I had to collaborate with biologists to have access to any funding.

Because my research is interdisciplinary, collaborations are very important. Work spread across several laboratories produces outcomes much more quickly than otherwise. That said, be very careful not to compromise your scientific standards and independence.

The theme for me from the start has been independence.

It is the scientific problem that must define whether collaboration is necessary, and with whom to collaborate. It is extremely important to choose collaborators carefully and well.

At the beginning of your career, seek support, especially among foreign counterparts through bi-national BSF and GIF grants and the like, but do not collaborate with well-known P.I.s, especially those formerly your own. Once established, do as you wish.

Here too I take a combined approach. With collaborators you can stretch out to new areas without having to do everything yourself. Still, ensure your specific contribution and expertise are recognized as yours, not the collaborators’.

The question is not whether to collaborate, but when and with whom. Naturally the answer depends on the project and prospective collaborator/s. Collaborations work best when all parties benefit and communication stays clear, constant, and honest.

I consider cooperation very important. It broadens our view of issues and encourages exploration of new methods. Cooperation is not the end of independence.

Collaboration depends on the project.

My group collaborates, and has extensively, since our start.