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How Hartl exceeds Skiba: determinants of a successful career in academia

Author

Listed:
  • Gustav Feichtinger

    (Vienna University of Technology)

  • Dieter Grass

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA))

  • Peter M. Kort

    (Tilburg University)

  • Andreas J. Novak

    (University of Vienna)

  • Andrea Seidl

    (University of Vienna
    Seeburg Castle University)

  • Stefan Wrzaczek

    (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA))

Abstract

We present and analyze a life cycle model of a scientific career to investigate how the budget available for research related activities affects a scientist’s long run success in academia. Recognizing that reputation has a positive impact on obtaining research funds as well as on producing scientific output, we determine the optimal efforts of a scientist with respect to applying for research grants and costly science related activities to improve reputation, such as networking and inviting guest researchers, under the assumption that the total extent of these activities is limited by a time budget. We find that the optimal solution is history-dependent and study four different career paths which differ with respect to the initial reputation and the initial financial means to identify the determinants of success and failure in academia. It is shown that the extent to which a scientist finds the results of his or her work rewarding, has a substantial impact on whether the scientist will build up a successful career.

Suggested Citation

  • Gustav Feichtinger & Dieter Grass & Peter M. Kort & Andreas J. Novak & Andrea Seidl & Stefan Wrzaczek, 2024. "How Hartl exceeds Skiba: determinants of a successful career in academia," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 32(2), pages 543-556, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:cejnor:v:32:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s10100-023-00889-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10100-023-00889-7
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    1. El Ouardighi, Fouad & Kogan, Konstantin & Vranceanu, Radu, 2013. "Publish or teach? Analysis of the professor's optimal career path," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 1995-2009.
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    6. Gustav Feichtinger & Dieter Grass & Maria Winkler-Dworak, 2020. "The mathematics of ageing:," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 28(2), pages 371-399, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Herbert Dawid & Karl F. Doerner & Gustav Feichtinger & Margaretha Gansterer & Peter M. Kort & Andrea Seidl, 2024. "Advances in applied optimal control and combinatorial optimization: special isssue in honor of Richard F. Hartl," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 32(2), pages 177-182, June.

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