What a job title leaves out of a research career
· ForesIQ
Two people with the title Research Scientist can be working on very different problems. One might study robot learning; another might focus on 3D vision. Searching the title finds both. Deciding whether either is relevant takes a closer look at the work.
Professional profiles are useful starting points. They can tell you where someone works and how they describe their role. But a short summary may leave out a developing specialism, a change in research direction or work that spans several fields.
Begin with the problem you need someone to work on
Before choosing titles or employers, describe the expertise the role needs. Which technical questions will this person tackle? Which research topics are directly relevant, and which are adjacent?
This gives the search a useful reference point. A familiar employer can still be a clue, but it need not define the entire pool of people you consider.
Ask three questions about each promising researcher
- What do they work on? Look for relevant topics and a body of work behind the match. Similar terminology does not always mean the same research problem.
- How is that work developing? Established standing and recent momentum are different signals. A long record of contribution and a developing trajectory may each matter to the brief, for different reasons.
- What does the career evidence establish? Check dates, affiliations and gaps. An employer on record may not reflect a recent move, and missing information is a question to investigate.
Make the reasoning useful to the next person
A longlist is easier to discuss when it includes why each person is relevant, what supports that view and what still needs checking. Recording those questions also helps colleagues continue the research without starting again.
ForesIQ brings expertise, field-relative standing, trajectories and supported career evidence into a shared workspace. Its current coverage includes computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, systems and infrastructure, and robotics. Profiles carry dated figures and visible gaps; your team decides whom to contact and how to assess them.