Acknowledgment in a publication

[MrBurns10]

---

Members don't see this ad.

This may be a silly question, but I wanted to ask anyway. During my year off, I did 9 months worth of behavioral research on mice in a neurology lab. I was mentioned as 2nd author in an abstract they took to a conference, so I assumed I would be listed when it actually got published. Well, it finally did this year (in Neuron), but I'm listed as an acknowledgment among a few others for our "invaluable help with genotyping and behavioral experiments" instead of as an author. My question is, is this even worth mentioning on residency applications?

Thanks in advance.

 

[tbo]

Acknowledgments in themselves mean very little, unfortunately. On paper, it at least suggests that you made a minimal contribution to the project. Based on what you've said (9months) and that you were an author on the abstract, it sounds like you got hosed. By the way, some journals limit the number of authors so it's possible there was some semi-legit reason for your exclusion - it still sounds wrong.

I would mention being 2nd author on the abstract for residency apps. From there, you can communicate to them your in-depth knowledge of the project, the importance of that work, and show them that your contribution was worthy of authorship on the manuscript. While I doubt that will hold the same cache as being a co-author, it at least gives you the opportunity to talk about your experience and speak intelligently about research.

 

[yaah]

The abstract is definitely worth mentioning - certain abstracts are also published in journals so it may technically be considered as "published." But even failing that, it's still an abstract/poster presentation at a national conference.

But yes, you don't mention the acknowledgement. That's kind of sleazy on behalf of the author, particularly if the paper was a direct descendent of the abstract. Sometimes journals limit number of authors so perhaps that is the reason, although usually the senior author can petition to have extra authors included if they substantially contributed (which it sounds like you did). But when that happens, authors will often include more of the "big names" even if they didn't make a significant contribution other than providing reagents or reviewing the manuscript, and then exclude the people who did a lot of the "real" work. Because, sad to say, "big names" will get papers published.

 

[Law2Doc]

Acknowledgments in themselves mean very little, unfortunately.

Acknowledgements mean less than very little. Not worth mentioning except to your parents. In research, you are either an author or you aren't.

 

[AmoryBlaine]

Sounds like very poor form on the part of the author. If you contributed in some meaningul way it's not like they couldn't have stuck you on at the end...

 

[Blade28]

Sounds like very poor form on the part of the author. If you contributed in some meaningul way it's not like they couldn't have stuck you on at the end...

Agreed. I'm sorry to hear about your situation. 👎

 

[MrBurns10]

Thanks for all the responses. Seeing as I ran 100% of the experiments for 9 months, I agree that I got hosed. The thing that I should clarify is that I was only listed on this abstract that they submitted for a poster presentation at a conference...I don't believe the abstract itself was ever published. I'm guessing that isn't worth mentioning either?

Oh well. Maybe I'll figure out a way to put it in my application that I should have been an author but wasn't. Somehow...

 

[SomeDoc]

Welcome to the politics of science. The same happened to me for one study, but fortunately the abstract was accepted at the conference prior to publication.

Something worth mentioning in your case is that there may be an abstracts database for the conference that the paper was submitted to. Your name might be on the abstract under submitted abstracts. I would certainly give that a try, and if your name does show up in their database, it would definitely be worth putting down on ERAS.

 

[Law2Doc]

it would definitely be worth putting down on ERAS.

Yeah, ERAS appears to have a category for "Peer Reviewed Journal Abstracts (Other than Published)" which might be a good place for this.

 

[MrBurns10]

Welcome to the politics of science. The same happened to me for one study, but fortunately the abstract was accepted at the conference prior to publication.

Something worth mentioning in your case is that there may be an abstracts database for the conference that the paper was submitted to. Your name might be on the abstract under submitted abstracts. I would certainly give that a try, and if your name does show up in their database, it would definitely be worth putting down on ERAS.

I just checked the conference's abstract submission list and I was listed as an author. Why they would include me there but not on the actual paper is beyond me, but at least I'll have something to mention. I'm really sorry to hear the same thing happened to you. Thanks for your help.

 

[MrBurns10]

Yeah, ERAS appears to have a category for "Peer Reviewed Journal Abstracts (Other than Published)" which might be a good place for this.

Better than nothing, I guess 🙂. Thanks for your help.

 

[soeagerun2or]

Who was the first author on the abstract, manuscript?

Was additional above and beyond the work presented in the abstract included in the manuscript?

Did you perform analyze your experiments and make figures? Did you do any of the writing or revision for the abstract or manuscript? After you left, did you follow-up to check on the status and keep your foot in the door?

 

[MrBurns10]

Who was the first author on the abstract, manuscript?

Was additional above and beyond the work presented in the abstract included in the manuscript?

Did you perform analyze your experiments and make figures? Did you do any of the writing or revision for the abstract or manuscript? After you left, did you follow-up to check on the status and keep your foot in the door?

Suddenly, I feel like I'm sitting in a room with no windows and have a light being shined directly in my face...

The first author was the postdoc I was working with. I did all the grunt work, made some figures and analyzed (with his help). I did not help write the article, which did not include more data than what I had done for the abstract/poster. Basically when I left, they were about to present at the conference and the postdoc was going to sit down and write the paper. I saw my PI a couple times after leaving (his lab is located where I go to school), but in retrospect, I shoudn't have just assumed I'd be listed as an author and probably kept more in contact.

 

[Law2Doc]

but in retrospect, I shoudn't have just assumed I'd be listed as an author and probably kept more in contact.

Usually you want to get to an oral understanding even before you do any work, and shoot out periodic emails following up, offering to help edit stuff etc.