For Hosts
A visiting researcher may travel thousands of miles and spend weeks or months at your institution partly because of the opportunity to work with you. Hosting does not require constant supervision. Often a small amount of well-timed attention makes an enormous difference.
Ask whether there is a genuine reason for the researcher to visit. What can they accomplish here? What can you realistically provide? Are you interested enough — and available enough — to be a meaningful host?
If the visit makes sense, discuss purpose, likely outcomes, duration, availability, meeting frequency, access requirements, useful introductions and opportunities to participate in the department. Do not promise support you cannot realistically provide.
Try to remove avoidable obstacles: workspace, building access, IT access, library access, laboratory or data access, ethics or safety requirements, seminar participation and introductions.
Think about people, not just facilities. Who should this researcher meet? A few thoughtful introductions can transform a visit.
Meet reasonably early after arrival. Ask: Is everything working? Maintain an appropriate meeting rhythm.
Help the visitor enter the intellectual community by introducing colleagues, inviting them to seminars, including them in research meetings, suggesting people with overlapping interests and encouraging them to present their work.
Have one final substantive conversation about what was accomplished, unfinished work, potential publications, future projects, funding opportunities, introductions still worth making and how you will remain in contact.
A successful host helps turn temporary proximity into lasting intellectual connection.
