Larger research groups can hamper academic survival

How does the size of a scientific group affect its younger researchers? Using data from over 1.5 million researchers and their publications, Roberta Sinatra, Professor at the Copenhagen Centre for Social Data Science (SODAS), investigated the question with fellow researchers from University of Copenhagen, IT University of Copenhagen, and Beijing Normal University.

‘Our analysis shows that mentees from larger research groups tend to show better academic performance – provided they stay in academia,’ she says, elaborating:

‘Academic mentees trained in larger groups often have higher citation counts and more publications.’

Lower survival rate

Despite the better academic results, it turns out that the survival rate of mentees from larger groups is significantly lower.

‘They are less likely to continue in academia compared to those from smaller groups. This may be due to the fierce competition for the mentor's time and attention,’ suggests Roberta Sinatra.

The study also highlights that the quality of mentorship plays a crucial role in the success of mentees.

‘Mentors who juggle many responsibilities and have many mentees may find it difficult to provide sufficient individualised guidance. And this can have a negative impact on the long-term career development of young researchers,’ mentions Roberta Sinatra.

A balance needs to be struck

The researchers hope their findings will lead to a reconsideration of how mentorship is structured in academic institutions.

‘It is important to strike a balance between having large, high-quality research groups while ensuring that each mentee receives the necessary support and guidance,’ emphasises Roberta Sinatra.

The new study provides valuable insight into how the size of research groups affects mentees' academic careers.

‘It is a step towards creating more sustainable and supportive academic environments where young researchers can thrive and develop,’ concludes Roberta Sinatra.

The study, published in the scientific journal Nature Human Behavior, is titled ‘Academic mentees thrive in big groups, but survive in small groups’ and was covered in a story on Nature.