alt Hacker NewsI think many with this opinion actually misunderstand. Slop will not save your scientific career. Really it is not about papers but securing grant funding by writing compelling proposals, and delivering on the research outlined in these proposals.
I think many with this opinion actually misunderstand. Slop will not save your scientific career. Really it is not about papers but securing grant funding by writing compelling proposals, and delivering on the research outlined in these proposals.
Ideally that is true. I do see the volume-over-quality phenomenon with some early career folks who are trying to expand their CVs. It varies by subfield though. While grant metrics tend to dominate career progression, paper metrics still exist. Plus, it’s super common in those proposals to want to have a bunch of your own papers to cite to argue that you are an expert in the area. That can also drive excess paper production.