ResearchGate introduces RG Score, Klout for boffins

Working in fields of academic science seems to be a tricky balance of reputation and review with grant applications and funding hanging in the balance for further research.

ResearchGate, the professional network for researchers has released RG Score, a metric to measure scientific reputation.

According to the company, more than 1.9 million scientists currently share papers, publish data and engage in discussions on its platform. The RG Score is designed to make those interactions visible and quantifiable.

Being published is a good way to boost scientific reputation (providing your paper is well received). The ResearchGate scoring system works alongside this model and the company hopes that it will be useful to scientists just starting out on their career.

The process side-steps around the need for publishing in journals. Though this means it might not have the same influence as being published traditionally, it does mean that more research can be aired a little faster.

Through the platform researchers can publish their results in real-time and get immediate feedback of their peers. That feedback is combined with the RG Score and the whole thing can be a source for reputation.

ResearchGate co-founder and CEO Dr. Ijad Madisch explains, “The RG Score allows real-time feedback from the people who matter: the scientists themselves.”

There are no restrictions on the type of data that researchers can publish on ResearchGate. So raw, negative or inconclusive data can all be added.

The firm hopes that this process will also help with crediting and transparency for the research process. A researcher’s score is calculated based on how the rest of the community interacts with their content, how often, and who it is that’s interacting.

ResearchGate was founded in 2008 by the virologists Dr. Ijad Madisch and Sören Hofmayer and computer specialist Horst Fickenscher. The platform is free of charge and ad-free.

The company recently completed its second investment round led by Founders Fund partner Luke Nosek, co-founder of PayPal, with participation from Benchmark Capital, Accel Partners, Michael Birch, and David O. Sacks.

Image credit: Lokesh Dhakar