?? One of the best career moves I made in academia? Collaborating outside my field.
Marina Silva-Opps
Empowering Academics to Build Resilience, Prevent Burnout, and Achieve Career and Entrepreneurial Goals; Strategic LinkedIn Profile Optimization; Expert in Strategic Career Transition and Professional Development.
I’m an ecologist. My husband is a physicist.
On paper, our fields have little in common. But one day, we asked ourselves:
"What if we combined our expertise to study urban foxes?"
Turns out that physics and ecology have a lot more overlap than we thought. It was a very interesting and fruitful collaboration that included field studies, computer simulations, and mathematical/physics models applied to animal movement.
That one question led to several publications, student collaborations, and fresh insights we never would have discovered alone.
This is why interdisciplinary collaboration is a game-changer!
THE LESSON: Some of the best academic breakthroughs happen when you step outside your niche and work with people who think differently.
But here’s the problem:
Most academics don’t put themselves in situations to spark these connections.
?? They stay in their research bubbles.
??They only network at conferences (once a year, maybe).
?? They ignore LinkedIn, assuming it’s “not for academics.” That’s a huge-missed opportunity!
If you want to find the right collaborators, you need to be visible and accessible.
Here’s how:
? Upgrade your LinkedIn profile – Make it clear what you do and what you’re looking for.
? Engage with other scholars – Comment on posts, share insights, start conversations.
? Connect beyond your field – Interdisciplinary work = fresh ideas + more opportunities.
I’ve seen academics land collaborations, funding opportunities, and career shifts just by being active on LinkedIn. Spending time on LinkedIn is time well spent, not wasted.
Your Practical Takeaway
A challenge:
? Spend 10 minutes today engaging. Comment on a post, send a message, or connect with someone new.
That one action could change everything.
Ever found a collaborator through an unexpected connection?
Drop your story below! ??
#AcademicCollaboration #Networking #InterdisciplinaryResearch #Academia #CollaborationMatters