Co-authorship in international journals is a widespread practice in modern science. According to the US National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), the share of internationally co-authored articles in Scopus grew from 19% in 2012 to 23% in 2022. For a researcher preparing to defend a PhD or doctoral thesis, a partner from a foreign university or research centre can broaden access to methodological tools, equipment, and international academic networks.
Why does a researcher need a co-authorship partner?
Working together on an article makes it possible to combine expertise from different fields, which tends to strengthen both the theoretical and methodological foundations of a publication. A researcher with experience of publishing in journals of the required quartile can provide support at the stages of manuscript preparation, correspondence with the editorial office, and responding to reviewers.
Internationally co-authored articles receive, on average, more citations from abroad, which reflects the broader impact of such publications on overall citation rates. At a number of universities, the presence of articles with foreign co-authors is also taken into account as an additional indicator when evaluating research output.
Platforms for finding a co-author for international publications
A logical starting point for finding a potential co-author is the professional academic platforms where researchers list their areas of study, affiliations, and publications:
- ResearchGate – an academic network with around 25 million users from 193 countries, supporting direct communication with authors and access to their publications
- ORCID – a registry of unique researcher identifiers with data on affiliations and scholarly outputs
- Google Scholar – author profiles containing a list of publications and citation indices
- Scopus Author Search – a search tool for authors and subject areas within the database's indexed researchers
- Academia.edu – a platform for sharing preprints and academic networking, oriented primarily towards the humanities and social sciences
- LinkedIn – a professional network where a significant number of researchers list their research interests and affiliations
When using the platforms listed above, it is helpful to define specific search parameters in advance: subject area and specialisation within it, publications in journals of the relevant quartile, and activity over the past two or three years.
How to make contact with a potential co-author?
The first approach should be concise and specific: vague expressions of a desire to “collaborate” with no mention of the topic or format of work reduce the likelihood of a reply. It is advisable to structure the message as follows:
- Brief introduction: full name, affiliation, academic degree or position.
- Project description: research topic, intended journal or quartile.
- Reason for contacting this person: reference to specific works relevant to the topic.
- Proposal for collaboration: the expected contribution of each party, approximate timelines.
- Contact details and links to a profile on ORCID, Google Scholar, or ResearchGate.
Sending an identical message to several researchers without adaptation is not advisable – it is noticeable and reduces the chances of a response.
Conferences and programmes as a tool for finding co-authors
International conferences remain one of the most effective ways of establishing academic contacts. Unlike written correspondence, meeting in person or online makes it easier to assess the compatibility of research approaches and build productive working relations.
Beyond conferences, a number of programmes offer avenues for international collaboration:
- academic mobility programmes (Erasmus+, DAAD, Fulbright programmes)
- international grants that include provisions for co-authorship with foreign partners
- subject-specific working groups within international professional associations
- joint projects under inter-university partnership agreements
Taking part in such formats can not only help find a co-author for a specific publication but also build longer-term academic connections.
What criteria matter when choosing a co-author for an international publication?
Selecting a co-author is not solely a question of professional competence. Equally important are aligned approaches to the work, a shared understanding of each party's contribution, and transparency in the terms of collaboration from the outset.
Before the joint work begins, it is advisable to agree on the following:
- the distribution of authorship and the order of authors in the list
- the target journal, stages of work, and approximate submission deadlines
- responsibility for individual sections of the manuscript
- a course of action in the event of disagreements or changes of plan
Clear agreements at the outset reduce the risk of conflicts during manuscript preparation and after publication.
Finding a co-author for international journals requires a systematic approach: selecting the right platforms, making a sound first contact, and establishing clear terms regarding each party's contribution. The outcome depends largely on how clearly the working relationship is structured throughout the preparation of the manuscript.
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