[Paper] Struggling to Connect: A Researchers' Reflection on Networking in Software Engineering

Source: arXiv - 2601.10907v1

Overview

Networking isn’t just a “soft skill” for software‑engineering (SE) researchers—it’s a gatekeeper to collaborations, funding, and career visibility. In this reflective study, Shalini Chakraborty examines how structural factors such as geography, immigration status, language, gender, and institutional culture shape who gets to connect and who gets left out in the global SE research ecosystem.

Key Contributions

• Empirical reflection on hidden barriers: Synthesizes existing literature with the author’s personal experiences to surface often‑overlooked inequities in SE research networking.
• Multi‑dimensional analysis: Highlights how country of residence, immigration status, native language, gender, and workplace culture intersect to affect networking opportunities.
• Call for a community‑driven “expert voice” initiative: Proposes a collective platform where under‑represented researchers can amplify their perspectives and influence networking norms.
• Actionable recommendations: Offers concrete steps for institutions, conference organizers, and senior researchers to mitigate bias and foster inclusive networking practices.

Methodology

The paper adopts a reflective, narrative‑based approach:

1. Literature review – Collates prior studies on academic networking, diversity, and mobility within computer science and SE.
2. Auto‑ethnographic lens – The author interweaves her own career trajectory (including immigration and language challenges) to illustrate systemic patterns.
3. Thematic synthesis – Identifies recurring themes (e.g., “visibility bias,” “visa‑related mobility constraints”) and maps them onto the broader SE community.

While not a quantitative survey, this mixed‑method narrative provides a rich, contextualized picture of the problem space.

Results & Findings

• Geography matters: Researchers based in North America or Western Europe report higher rates of conference invitations and editorial board memberships than peers in the Global South.
• Immigration status creates “invisible walls”: Visa restrictions limit conference travel, reducing chances for face‑to‑face networking and collaborative grant applications.
• Language proficiency influences perceived expertise: Non‑native English speakers often self‑censor in presentations and are less likely to be invited as keynote speakers.
• Gendered networking patterns: Women report fewer informal mentorship connections and experience higher “social cost” when navigating male‑dominated networking events.
• Workplace culture amplifies or dampens networking: Institutions that reward collaborative publications and provide travel funds see higher networking activity among their staff.

Practical Implications

• Conference organizers can implement virtual networking tracks, subsidized travel grants, and language‑accessible sessions to level the playing field.
• Universities and research labs should allocate dedicated networking budgets for early‑career and international scholars, and embed mentorship programs that pair senior and under‑represented researchers.
• Funding agencies might consider mobility clauses that account for visa delays, allowing flexible reporting periods for collaborative projects.
• Tool developers can create open‑source platforms for “expert voice” contributions—e.g., curated discussion boards where researchers can share challenges and solutions without the pressure of formal publication.
• Individual developers and SE practitioners can benefit from a more diverse research community, gaining access to novel methodologies and cross‑cultural perspectives that improve software tools and processes.

Limitations & Future Work

• The study relies heavily on subjective reflection and a limited set of personal anecdotes, which may not capture the full statistical variance across the global SE community.
• Empirical validation (e.g., surveys, network analysis) is needed to quantify the impact of the identified barriers.
• Future research could explore intervention studies—testing the effectiveness of proposed “expert voice” platforms or targeted mentorship schemes in improving networking equity.

By shedding light on the systemic hurdles that shape who gets to network—and ultimately who gets to influence software engineering research—this paper invites both academia and industry to rethink how we build professional connections in a truly global field.

Authors

• Shalini Chakraborty

Paper Information

• arXiv ID: 2601.10907v1
• Categories: cs.SE
• Published: January 15, 2026
• PDF: Download PDF