Hi all, my advisor is taking first author on a paper that is derived from my master’s thesis, and I am wondering if this is typical, or worth questioning. The thesis utilized their qualitative data, but the analysis was done on a topic that they had not originally intended to analyze. I did the new qual coding and analysis, and wrote the thesis. I had help from the advisor on the thesis, as they helped steer me while outlining the paper and making stronger connections to the existing lit. They offered edits on two drafts. Now, we are planning to shrink the thesis into a journal manuscript. They have decided that the insights uncovered are novel, and want to shoot for a more “prestigious” journal than originally intended. They also want first author. They stated that they talked to others in the field and they said that because it’s their original data, it would make more sense for them to take first author. Is this normal? My peers are telling me it’s not. This person is also my PhD advisor now. TIA for any thoughts.
Edit: Why is this being downvoted?
Comments
Maybe it’s just a field difference but it’s very weird to me that the PI thinks being last author is not valuable. I can’t speak to your field specifically but I agree this seems off. I could even see having you first, them corresponding (still unusual though if it’s not their primary focus of research).
The advisor’s rationale is BS – the only time I ever took a paper from a student was 1) before it was written, 2) I needed to be 1st author because we were going to use that paper as a rationale for a large grant proposal that I would be PI on (the grant would fund the students postdoc), and 3) the student had the final say on whether this felt ok. So, the student will do most of the work on the paper but will be second author on the submission.
Depending on the advisors philosophy of authorship, they should be on the paper (I leave it up to my students to decide whether they want me as an author – I view my guidance on the project as teaching since the student is enrolled in thesis credits). They should not, however, be 1st author.
Edit:
By the advisors rationale, they should also take credit for the thesis since you used their data.
The time when this is okay is if the student has left academia and the paper wouldn’t get published without the PI taking over. I think that’s usually fair because a thesis typically requires substantial rewriting. But to take a paper from your current student is pretty indefensible, to me. Presumably you need first-author pubs way more than they do.