Academic Expert Vetting Checklist
NotedSource resource
Academic Expert Vetting Checklist
Use this checklist to compare academic experts before scheduling calls, requesting proposals, or starting a collaboration.
1. Relevance
- Has the expert published, patented, taught, or advised directly in the topic area?
- Do they understand the specific application, market, regulation, or technical constraint?
- Can they explain how their expertise maps to your question?
2. Credibility
- Peer-reviewed publications or recognized scholarship
- Relevant grants, patents, standards work, clinical work, or industry collaborations
- Institutional affiliation and reputation
- Evidence of current work in the field
3. Practical fit
- Can the expert communicate clearly to non-academic stakeholders?
- Have they worked with companies, law firms, agencies, or product teams before?
- Can they produce the kind of output you need: interview, memo, roadmap, review, or pilot design?
4. Availability and constraints
- Available within your timeline
- No conflicts with competitors or litigation
- Comfortable with confidentiality requirements
- Clear expectations around IP, data access, and publication limits
5. Scoring rubric
Score each candidate 1-5 for relevance, credibility, practical fit, availability, and risk. Prioritize experts with the highest combined score and the fewest constraints.
Ready to find the right expert?
If you already have a research challenge in mind, NotedSource can help identify academic experts, structure outreach, and move from question to scoped collaboration.