What's the best way to change research fields? These three scientists have ideas

"Researchers who switch topics more frequently are more likely to challenge existing paradigms, introduce novel ideas and integrate diverse perspectives, thereby accelerating the evolution of scientific knowledge. This highlights topic-switching as a vital mechanism for creative breakthroughs and the diversification of research landscapes."

"A 2019 study found that moving between topics too frequently at the early-career stage might be detrimental to a scientist's productivity, defined as the number of papers that they publish, although this trend is inverted in later career stages. Furthermore, scientists who switched topics received fewer citations at all career stages than did those who stayed in the same field."

Scientific careers rarely follow linear paths, with successful researchers frequently pivoting between research areas. A 2025 study of 1.4 million scientists found that topic switching correlates with innovation, as researchers who change topics introduce novel ideas and integrate diverse perspectives. However, timing is critical: early-career scientists who switch topics too frequently experience reduced productivity, while late-career researchers benefit from such transitions. Topic-switching researchers receive fewer citations across all career stages compared to those remaining in single fields. Since 2000, topic switching has increased substantially, reflecting growing interdisciplinary collaboration driven by complex scientific challenges in climate science, artificial intelligence, and biomedical research.

Read at Nature