Doctoral Fellows’ Learning Forum

Making Research Collaborations and Partnerships Work Effectively

Collaborations and partnerships, on the surface, seem like an ideal way of learning, sharing resources, and putting many brains together. However, how does one form such an effective team in the research field? The August RICC Post-Doctoral Fellows’ Interactive Learning Forum had a panel of experts who shared their experiences.

Led by Dr. Bob Bolliger of Johns Hopkins University, the panel included Professor Gerhard Walzl, Executive Head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Head of the Division of Immunology, and Head of the Stellenbosch University Immunology Research Group, and Dr. Karen Dobos, Professor of Microbiology at Colorado State University. The RICC Fellows and other participants got a taste of what it takes to make research collaborations and partnerships work.

The three subject-matter experts are not early-stage career collaborators; however, circumstances related to the direction of their interests and careers have made partnering with others natural. We need collaborators for many reasons. Here are their lessons learned:

Collaboration and partnerships are necessary and important.

Partnerships can expand and extend work of interest, and, as government funding gets cut, pooling other types of funding can only be of benefit.

Finding a collaborator may be as simple as looking at the literature.

Look into associated investigators and your topics of interest. BUT, also see how people of interest order investigators based on their authorship of publications. This can indicate how the investigator mentors and provides credit for reported science.

When starting a new collaboration, you want to ‘sell’ your collaborator on gaining equal or more benefits out of the relationship.

For example, you may be working with a partner who has new, state-of-the-art technology, and you have many samples sitting with no purpose. The samples may be useful for your new collaborator in validating new technology.

Be confident about what you can contribute to the relationship.

Many people in the TB field are retiring; therefore, early-stage investigators are valuable for long-term work commitments, innovative ideas, and new competencies and skills, especially around technology.

Funders often stipulate that you have to include an external collaborator.

While this is a great way to start a new relationship, make sure this entity has an actual, contributory role as opposed to just being a “figurehead.” Often, groups with a history of successful work together can be of advantage in getting a grant. However, don’t let this stop you from trying out a new relationship that has the same way of thinking as you, with the same goals.

Don’t shy away from firmly establishing roles and responsibilities up front.

Collaborators should contribute something to the research. You may try to use written agreements, such as memorandums of understanding or research compacts, to delineate what partners are responsible for.

Trust your gut instincts.

Effective collaborations are often based on good interpersonal relationships. These tend to be long-lasting, and working with them provides ‘joy’ in your life.

Negative entities don’t mean the end of a relationship.

Decide the impact of a negative relationship and even consider having a heart-to-heart conversation with people with whom you may be having trouble.

If a for-profit company wants to partner, don’t always be suspicious.

Many for-profit science companies have obligations to serve the greater good, and some for-profit companies have genuine humanitarian missions.

It may take an entire grant cycle to find out if a relationship is valuable.

If the fit is right, try to maintain a valuable research relationship even after the formal collaboration is complete. This may include occasional email check-ins and grabbing a meal together at a conference.

We thank our RePORT colleagues for sharing their wisdom! Look out for the next RICC Post-Doctoral Fellows’ Interactive Learning Forum.