Maintaining an Active Research Career through Collaboration

Throughout history great mathematics has been conducted in collaboration at institutions where mathematicians and scientists came together at seminars and workshops to exchange their developing ideas. In our age of international travel and communication on the internet, the opportunities to collaborate have expanded exponentially. In this panel we will discuss issues that arise in mathematical collaborations, including questions such as how to start and maintain a successful collaboration, how collaborative efforts can build a research program and a career, how to engage students in collaborative research, and how to obtain funding for collaboration. Panelists will share their experience at research institutions, undergraduate institutions and in industry.

Live Panel:

- Joint Mathematics Meetings,
- Wednesday, January 4, 2012, 2:15 pm - 3:40 pm.
- Association for Women in Mathematics Panel Discussion
- Moderator: Ami Radunskaya
  - Panelists: Ruth Haas, Trachette L Jackson, Jill Pipher, Ulrica Wilson
- Organizers: Ruth Haas, Jennifer Lewis, Ami Radunskaya, Christina Sormani
- The discussion will continue online at https://sites.google.com/site/awmpanel2012/

Online Panel:

- December 1, 2011- August 30, 2012
- Questions: are listed here with links to responses.
- Online Moderator: Christina Sormani
- Online Panelists: Open to any mathematician. Participants so far are listed here.
- Questions and contributions may be sent to sormanic ( at ) gmail.com

Online Panel

We have divided the questions into three major categories:

I. Collaboration, Coauthoring and One's Career

These questions concerns ways in which collaboration can help one's career: the basics of collaboration and questions regarding collaboration as a postdoc and tenure track faculty member, coauthoring with undergraduates and obtaining funding.

II. Building Collaborations to Achieve Mathematical Goals

These questions concern the exchange of ideas and building of collaborations where the goal is to solve a mathematical problem. While these questions are relevant to young mathematicians, they are essential to mature mathematicians.

III. Collaboration Difficulties

These questions focus on specific difficulties that may arise during the collaboration process and how they may be addressed. We encourage mathematicians with concerns to send in questions and they will be posted anonymously. Collaboration is an essential part of the mathematical process and it is important to understand how to maintain a successful collaboration especially in a long term project.

IV. Additional Questions

Anyone who has a question should email them to the online moderator. We will list them here and try to find someone to answer the question. Some questions may be inserted under an existing topic. Others will be added at the end.

I. Collaboration, Coauthoring and One's Career:

A. How to find Collaborators or Make Yourself Available as a Collaborator on an Existing Project?

B. How can Mathematicians in Isolation Collaborate?

C. Collaborating with Scientists and Mathematicians Outside of Your Field

D. Collaborating with Undergraduates

E. Collaborating with Colleagues in Your Department

F. Collaborating with A Spouse or Parent

G. Collaborating with Multiple Coauthors on a Single Project

H. How to handle Collaboration with a Senior Mathematician, Postdoctoral Advisor or your Doctoral Advisor?

I. Collaborating without Coauthoring

J. Collaboration and its Effect on Tenure and Promotion? Letters of Recommendation and Paper Counting

K. Obtaining Funding for Collaborative Research