Successful Research Collaborations

Yesterday, we held a great e-seminar with Drs. Hillary Lum and Brianne Bettcher in the CU School of Medicine. We took notes during the talk and came away with a list of great tips that I've shared below. Feel free to watch the seminar video here!

Finding Collaborators:

• Look for gaps in your own knowledge/expertise.
• Identify people who can fill any gaps?
• Draw on other's strengths to complement yours?
• Find collaborators through NIH RePORTER.
• Get connected through mutual colleagues/mentors.
• Check the Colorado Profiles website to find colleagues’ content areas and who they have published with.

Beginning a Collaboration/Grants Considerations:

• Consider how reviewers will see your team vs how it operates when project gets going.
• Consider level of involvement you are seeking from collaborators.
• Think through how to demonstrate and describe the collaboration in grants, perhaps in the grant, in the biosketches, in the letters of support...
• Diverse perspectives/collaborators can take more time on the front end but can allow for a more dynamic/productive team longer term.

Maintaining a Collaboration:

• Trust is especially important with an external collaboration.
• Summarize group meetings in an email afterward to keep folks on the same page.
• Navigating power differentials + distance adds to complexity.
• Reach out to mentors or peers for help and advice.
• Discuss managerial style upfront.
• Have metacommunication - discuss how you will communicate.

Collaboration Pitfalls/Threats:

• Do not assume a collaborator is invested or bought in
• Do not over/underestimate collaborator's strengths.
• Getting clarity/agreement about your role beyond the grant development.
• Threat: Collaborators changing institutions
• Re-set or modify expectations when threats occur.
• Understand how power dynamics might be working to hinder team communication.
• Have face to face meetings when there is conflict (tone can be misinterpreted in email)

Key tips for successful collaboration:

• Build a strong relationship with good communication and having fun!
• Find collaborators you are excited to work with.
• Do the work / do what you said you would do, where your expertise is.
• Create a team charter that outlines vision/values, roles, authorship, decision-making, communication plan, and conflict management plan.

Resources:

Successful Research Collaborations Video

Successful Research Collaborations Resources