Worth fighting for sole first author?

[Argon]

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I've been working in a lab and gotten some good results so we're close to publishing a paper.

Another undergrad and I have put more work in than anyone else so will be the first two authors. Our postdoc mentioned casually that we would probably be co-first author but I believe I've put a bit more work in than my partner.

Do you think it's worth fighting for sole first author?

 

[sylvanthus]

I think you would be a total dick if you did that and it wouldn't help you in the least.

 

[alienshards]

Short answer: no.

Long answer: noooooooooooooooo.

Just be able to talk about your research. If you show a good understanding then it doesn't matter what author you are.

 

[typhoonegator]

No, co-first author is totally legitimate from a CV perspective, so rather than getting more recognition for yourself, you'd only be giving your peer the beat-down. Doesn't seem like a decent thing to do.

You should be glad there isn't a post-doc who's snuck into the first author position anyway. Share the wealth and pay it forward.

 

[Mornhavon]

.

 

[wlee43]

This is why people don't like pre meds

 

[bobow98]

Dude, that's like double-teaming a chick and saying you did all the work because you got your stick dirty. Don't do it. 😉

👍

So about that chick.....


JK 😀

 

[S6MD]

I've been working in a lab and gotten some good results so we're close to publishing a paper.

Another undergrad and I have put more work in than anyone else so will be the first two authors. Our postdoc mentioned casually that we would probably be co-first author but I believe I've put a bit more work in than my partner.

Do you think it's worth fighting for sole first author?

😱

 

[random cell]

I'm just gonna say what everyone here is thinking: you're an assh0le.

For even considering back stabbing a labmate is heinous.

 

[vickpick]

yes, you're an *******.

 

[gettheleadout]

This is why people don't like pre meds

so true.


Also lol @ OP

 

[getright]

Pre-meds just suck.

 

[Narmerguy]

Isn't one of the names going to have to go first though on the paper?

 

[LizzyM]

Isn't one of the names going to have to go first though on the paper?

My thought exactly!

 

[eablackwell]

I always thought they were stacked...like research credit jenga. 😛

 

[rhcarolina]

Dude, that's like double-teaming a chick and saying you did all the work because you got your stick dirty.

😆

OP: It doesn't matter.

 

[jsh52]

I've been working in a lab and gotten some good results so we're close to publishing a paper.

Another undergrad and I have put more work in than anyone else so will be the first two authors. Our postdoc mentioned casually that we would probably be co-first author but I believe I've put a bit more work in than my partner.

Do you think it's worth fighting for sole first author?

😱 I'm a 4th year Ph.D. student. You don't pull that crap. 👎

THIS is how you do things: I'm giving a fellow graduate student second author on my upcoming paper because she did two days of control experiments for me. That's all. I've got two years of data in this paper (and it's going to a high impact factor journal) and did >99% of the experiments myself. Give credit where credit is due.

 

[0919mmk]

Isn't one of the names going to have to go first though on the paper?

Yes, but in co-first authorship, the names read "____ & ____,next author,next author" so that if there's no comma separating the first two authors they are both considered first author. Between the first coauthors, they'll probably just go alphabetically.

 

[gbwillner]

Yes, but in co-first authorship, the names read "____ & ____,next author,next author" so that if there's no comma separating the first two authors they are both considered first author. Between the first coauthors, they'll probably just go alphabetically.

ahhhhh.... no.

It will be "premed #1*, premed #2*, next author, next author"
* contributed equally to this work

IMHO it is MUCH BETTER to be listed first. Don't screw the other guy, but if you did most of the work, or wrote the paper, you should fight to be listed first. Work it out with your buddy- offer to write the paper yourself. Getting 1st author listed second is not nothing, but I would rather be listed first any day.

I suggest a cagematch: two premeds enter, one premed leaves.

 

[Darwinism]

Get a life....first author is first author, it doesn't matter if you have two, it is the same damn thing. And it will probably hurt you more than help...because nobody will like you!

 

[Cypher321]

ahhhhh.... no.

It will be "premed #1*, premed #2*, next author, next author"
* contributed equally to this work

IMHO it is MUCH BETTER to be listed first. Don't screw the other guy, but if you did most of the work, or wrote the paper, you should fight to be listed first. Work it out with your buddy- offer to write the paper yourself. Getting 1st author listed second is not nothing, but I would rather be listed first any day.

I suggest a cagematch: two premeds enter, one premed leaves.

Knives or fists?

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

Oh yeah, fight it out. No one has ever heard of crick because watson's name was first. Don't fall victim to the same fate.

Or...

Just let it go and be glad the postdoc isn't hijacking your data like both watson and crick did with franklin's data.

Geeze, Louise.

 

[gbwillner]

Knives or fists?

I suggest 2x4's with a long nail sticking out if it.

 

[Cypher321]

I suggest 2x4's with a long nail sticking out if it.

Or perhaps weapon choice a la Battle Royale? Will it be the mop or the M1911?

 

[Narmerguy]

Just let it go and be glad the postdoc isn't hijacking your data like both watson and crick did with franklin's data.

Good one 👍

 

[echosensei]

No. You'll have plenty of time in your career to be a p_ick. Don't start now. Word travels fast in the MD PhD world, and you don't want the label while your application is under review.

 

[soundnin]

Yes, but in co-first authorship, the names read "____ & ____,next author,next author" so that if there's no comma separating the first two authors they are both considered first author. Between the first coauthors, they'll probably just go alphabetically.

do people really say things like this, confidently believing in their own words?! where does this misinformation come from? is this pure imagination?

 

[TOcho118]

Does your last name come first alphabetically? lol

 

[gettheleadout]

do people really say things like this, confidently believing in their own words?! where does this misinformation come from? is this pure imagination?

Sometimes people make stuff up (aka BS) and it sounds so correct and logical to them that they profess it as truth.

 

[jeepy]

I would agree with those who say just be glad there's no post-doc taking all the credit.....

 

[itellitlikeitis]

do people really say things like this, confidently believing in their own words?! where does this misinformation come from? is this pure imagination?

 

[Frazier]

No screwing-over allowed, OP.

 

[spicedmanna]

I've been working in a lab and gotten some good results so we're close to publishing a paper.

Another undergrad and I have put more work in than anyone else so will be the first two authors. Our postdoc mentioned casually that we would probably be co-first author but I believe I've put a bit more work in than my partner.

Do you think it's worth fighting for sole first author?

Just be glad you are going to be co-author in the first place, OP. I spent several years and many all-nighters working on several studies, at the expense of my school work, only to get my name on a few abstracts! I did A LOT of work on these studies...it was no joke. I even contributed to the writing of the abstracts and papers. However, I was bumped out by several more senior authors who did almost nothing. That's the way it works in academia, unfortunately. Seniority wins. Be glad you are going to at least get to be a co-author.

 

[Residual]

I'm actually curious. When you imagined yourself "fighting" for first authorship, what exactly did you think you were going to do?

What leverage do you think you have as an undergraduate? Forget about whether you should: what made you think you could?