| Abstract: |
In this paper, we investigate how the choice to conduct interdisciplinary work
affects a researcher's career. Using data on 23,926 articles published by
6,105 researchers affiliated with the University of Florida in the period
2008-2013, we show that synthesizing knowledge from diverse fields pays off in
terms of reputation. However, if combining too-distant research fields, the
impact of a work is penalized. Moreover, research conducted balancing the
contribution of different scientific fields has a negative impact on the
reputation of scientists in terms of the number of citations but a positive
impact on the diffusion of knowledge across other disciplines. Our findings
are robust to a number of controls, including individual, time, and field of
study fixed effects, and they apply to all investigators regardless of their
gender, collaboration behavior, performance, and affiliation. All in all,
despite its public benefits, interdisciplinary research comes with a cost for
a researcherùs academic career. This trade-off poses challenging questions to
policymakers. |