Dear Solutions Lab,
I am a researcher at a research center located in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC). I spent the early part of my career in Europe before relocating to an LMIC for personal reasons. Adjusting to my new institution was challenging, largely because of differences in work culture and professional expectations. Around the same time, I also started a family. As a result, I have not published any scientific papers for the past ten years. However, I have many research ideas in neuroscience that I am eager to develop. I often feel that there are significant institutional barriers, particularly at the management level, and I have struggled to establish meaningful research collaborations. I am uncertain about the best way to move forward. I recently began writing a manuscript, but I worry that it may not be accepted because I am the sole author and I am affiliated with an institution in an LMIC. My goal is to rebuild and relaunch my research career.
Thank you for taking a look.
Hello!
I would suggest trying to reconnect with former colleagues and reach out to others working on similar questions. Those conversations could lead to collaborations that strengthen a project proposal and bring in expertise or resources they can’t access locally. They may need to build a network around the project rather than trying to do everything in house, especially if institutional support is limited.
I’d also encourage them to keep going with the manuscript and get some honest feedback before submitting. I wouldn’t assume sole authorship or an LMIC affiliation means it won’t be accepted. Getting one manageable piece of work finished could help rebuild their confidence and give them something to build on.
Good luck! I hope to read your paper soon.
Hello,
Firstly, don’t write yourself off. Moving countries, starting a family and finding your feet in a different institution is a lot. A gap in publications doesn’t wipe out your experience or mean you have nothing to contribute.
I wouldn’t try to solve the whole career question at once. Start with the manuscript you’re already writing. Get some honest feedback, find a suitable journal and submit it. Being a sole author or based in an LMIC shouldn’t rule you out. Bias exists, but don’t reject your own paper before an editor has even seen it.
I’d also get back in touch with a few former colleagues. You don’t need to apologise for the gap. Tell them what you’re working on and make a specific request, perhaps feedback on the draft or help with a particular part of the research. That gives a collaboration somewhere to start.
The management barriers may be very real. Try to pin down exactly what you need to get one manageable project moving, and whether your institution will support it.
You don’t have to make up for ten years in one go. One paper and a few useful conversations would be a decent start. And you’ve already started.
Alzheimer's Association
Nature Careers Blog
Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali