Working Collaboratively in Grad School
Benefits of collaboration:
- Gain different perspectives on issues and different solutions
- Learn new skills—ex. try new lab equipment, use a new framework or lens, etc.
- Collaboration skills are needed in the workplace and everyday life
- Possibility of additional funding and publication
- Networking opportunities
How to begin a partnership:
- Extracurriculars—join groups to connect with other students, build communication skills
- Conferences and seminars—meet your colleagues, learn what they’re working on
- Professors—get to know them and their research before asking about opportunities
- Social media—connect with academic accounts their followers
Best Practices:
- Common challenges: cultural differences, finding common interests, time, geographic restraints, and power differences
- Overcome challenges with clear, frequent communication
- Divide up work ahead of time, plan the sequence of the work
- Share ideas you have even if you’re less experienced than your research partner
- Create a common goal based on a win-win situation, and be prepared to compromise
- Ask for and offer your help, but don’t overstep boundaries if your help is refused
- Share credit for the work and acknowledge each contribution in public presentations
Developing collaboration skills:
- Practice expressing your ideas to new people
- Be respectful when sharing your opinions
- Listen to understand, not to respond
- Trust the expertise of others; learn what your collaborators are experts in
- Pay attention to your body language and the body language of others
Improve your writing and study skills! Book an appointment with a writing advisor and/or academic coach on OSCARplus. Questions? Email skills@mcmaster.ca.
References
Baldwin, Roger G. and Deborah A. Chang. “Collaborating to Learn, Learning to Collaborate.” Peer Review, vol. 9, no. 4, 2007, https://www.aacu.org/publications-research/periodicals/collaborating-learn-learning-collaborate.
“Best Practices for Collaborating on Research.” University of Nebraska, https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/connections/best-practices-collaborating-research.
Kroemer, Tyasning. “How to Master Collaboration Skills in the Graduate School.” Gold Biotechnology, https://www.goldbio.com/articles/article/how-to-collaborate-in-graduate-school.