Team Science Toolkit

Science is becoming more and more team-based! Engaging in team science has become crucial to a successful scientific career.

This toolkit provides resources, guides, and connections that will provide insight and help you explore the translational impact of your research.

Translational scientists play a key role in many aspects of science, moving basic science to clinical trials, to the development of public health initiatives. Watch the Role of Translational Scientists or read The Fundamental Characteristics of a Translational Scientist from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to learn more.

Team Science Online Learning

In March 2020 NIH Center for Research Strategy director, Michelle Bennett gave a webinar for the Georgia CTSA on the science of team science.

The Science of Team Science: Webinar

The NIH has provided a variety of tools for anyone who is interested in Team Science. Their Team Science Toolkit provides a wide range of searchable resources to help start projects, boost team performance, get institutional support, conduct research, evaluate, and engage partners. It also provides a way to connect with researchers across other disciplines by hosting blog discussions and allowing you to share your knowledge by uploading your own work.

Additional NIH Resources:

CTSA Online Assistance for LEveraging the Science of Collaborative Effort

Developed at Northwestern University the COALESCE (CTSA Online Assistance for LEveraging the Science of Collaborative Effort) project has created wonderful self-guided learning modules and an online video course to enhance skills needed to perform transdisciplinary, team-based translational research called Teamscience.net. Solutions to complex scientific problems require teams of diverse specialists working across the boundaries of disciplinary silos. Teamscience.net aims to create, evaluate, and disseminate durable, readily accessible online learning resources to enhance skills needed to perform transdisciplinary, team-based translational research. The tools on teamscience.net are designed to help learners envision how transdisciplinary collaboration can work and overcome the inevitable communication challenges that arise when working in multidisciplinary teams. Users are able to move freely throughout the site’s learning modules, identifying topics of interest and viewing expert and research-based information on those topics at will.

To Register for the Team Science Training Institute:

 Browse to the Team Science Training Institute.

  1. Select “Click Here” to log in or register.
  2. On the next page, select “Register (free)” at the top right of the page.
  3. Enter your profile information and click “Next” to complete a brief survey.
  4. Click “Register” on the final page of the survey.
  5. Click “OK” when you get the notification that registration is complete.
  6. Click “Back to Login Screen” to log in with your newly created account

Toolkit

Working in an interdisciplinary team can be challenging. The thought of bringing together people from different backgrounds and careers can be intimidating. Here are tips and resources on how to make this concept a successful possibility:

Finding collaborators can be a difficult task. Many people don’t know how or where to find them. Below are a few tools that may be able to help: 

  • Emory First
  • UGA Elements
  • Owens Institute for Behavioral Research 
    • Search for collaborators from the Owens Institute for Behavioral Research unit of the University of Georgia based on research interests.
  • NIH Matchmaker
    • Enter abstracts or other scientific text and Matchmaker will return lists of similar projects from RePORTER or program officials associated with those projects. These matches are based on the terms and concepts used in the submitted text. Matchmaker summarizes the projects by the program official, institute or center, review panel, and activity code.
  • Direct to Experts
  • Research Gate

No matter how you define your goals, aligning expectations is critical to the success of team science. These tools will help you clarify expectations, achieve goals, and establish agreed-upon guidelines for your team:

Communication is one of the key factors that help teams be effective. Being a good communicator will not only improve your team experience, but it will also be useful in many other aspects of your career.

Learn more about how to develop effective communication skills and listening skills by viewing the tools listed below:

Teams should not fear or avoid conflict. Though conflict can be difficult and stressful, it is actually very normal and, if handled well, can help the team grow and become stronger. Below are resources to help mediate conflict resolution:

Assessing Your Team

It is important that you continually assess your team as you build your research to ensure you are being effective. These team assessment tools from ITP Metrics will show you what your team's strengths are and what areas may warrant improvement.

Interested in studying team science? Check out INGroup and INSciTS. The Mendeley Library also contains the latest science of team science research.

Did these resources not answer your question? Is there something that we’re missing?

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