Several months past, I approached one of my dissertation committee members (who is not faculty in my department and a world renowned expert in my area of research) about publishing some papers with me and he agreed. I sent him a few drafts of some papers, which he said were well written and provided some good feedback. Then out of nowhere he emailed me and told me that I should publish within my own department and discipline, and essentially ditched me. What is up? Totally confused!!!

Probably some internal politics somewhere. Why did you choose to publish with that person and not your supervisors?

Because he was a world renowned expert in their area of research?

One possible reason might emerge if you google the Lacour / Greene mess. I imagine a lot of senior folks will be more wary of publishing now when they know their name is on the paper because they are famous, not because they've really contributed to the paper. Not that I'm suggesting that you've fabricated data of course, more that I think very arms length collaborations like the one you outline are being frowned on a bit these days, and maybe that is why he's changed his mind.

Why is the thread called 'Publishing with Supervisor, but Got Ditched," if you *weren't* publishing with a sup? Just out of curiousity.

I chose to publish with this person because they are one of committee supervisors, plus works in my area of interest. Absolutely!! the person was going to be an author on the papers.

It sounds like you want them on your paper just for their name. He didn't do any of the work or guide anything you've written. Shouldn't it be your supervisor, whose given you the phd?

I think we are confused as well because this person appears to be not from the UK, so when they are saying 'supervisor', they don't mean the UK version of a supervisor, but more someone from their thesis advisory committee.

Why don't you just contact the person and ask them?