The U and I of Authorship: A Road Map for Successful Research Collaborations

For many postgraduate students, publication represents the ultimate recognition after years of research effort and achievement; yet there are many potential pitfalls that lie on the road to publication for the unsuspecting postgrad. Defining the nature of the postgraduate-supervisor collaboration and assigning authorship roles are issues that carry both practical and legal implications for students from all disciplines and which are best addressed early in a postgrad’s journey to avoid becoming problems later. This seminar outlines some potential pitfalls on the postgraduate’s road towards publication, and presents a range of strategies to (help avoid the potholes and) manage successful collaborations in their future research and professional careers.

Presented by Dr Suzanne Morris, Education Officer for the CRC Sugarcane Biotechnology at The University of Queensland, Brisbane. Originally trained as a plant scientist, Suzanne has recently expanded her research interests to include authorship issues in research collaborations, postgraduate supervision, and the role played by industry mentors in the supervisory process.