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Team Science and Collaborative Research: What is Team Science?

This libguide will point you to essentials resources to improve your knowledge and practice of collaborative research, and, more importantly, team science.

Team science is the collaborative effort to address a scientific challenge that leverages the strengths and expertise of professionals trained in different fields.  This guide will point you to essential resources to improve your knowledge and practice of collaborative research, and, more importantly, team science. 

Asst Dean & Director, Research Collaboration and Engagement

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Ginny Pannabecker
she/they
Contact:
vpannabe@vt.edu
Newman Library, Room 6080

Office Hours are Flexible:
Contact me to arrange an appointment at: vpannabe@vt.edu
540-231-7980
Website

Team Science Training

Virginia Tech Course Highlight

Team Science, Cooperation, and Interdisciplinary Work (ALCE 5224)

An online, asynchronous graduate course (see description) offered each Spring semester. In the future, an in-person course may be offered during Fall semesters. Contact Professor Eric Kaufman (ekk@vt.edu) for more information.

Virginia Tech Training Highlight

2023-2024 Team Science Training Workshop Series

Establishing and maintaining an effective research team is a difficult challenge as research addresses complex problems and spans disciplines, societal sectors, communities, and institutions. To support Virginia Tech faculty members’ capacity to engage in and lead successful cross-disciplinary teams, the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment (ISCE) and its Whole Health Consortium, and +Policy Network offered a three-part workshop series on team science fundamentals. This workshop series was provided by Dr. Shalini Misra, Associate Professor, Urban Affairs and Planning. Workshop full description, recordings, and materials.

Team Science Books

Journal Articles to get you started quickly

NCI's Team Science Toolkit

Characteristics of High Performing Research Teams

What are some characteristics of high-performing teams? 

  • Effective leadership and management skills
  • Self and other-awareness
  • Trust established among members
  • Strategies for communicating openly
  • Effective building of team
  • Created, shared and revisited a shared vision
  • Provisions for recognition and credit
  • Disagreements while containing conflict
  • Learned each other’s languages
  • Fun and enjoy the work together

Source: Bennett, L. M., & Gadlin, H. (2012). Collaboration and team science: from theory to practice. Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research, 60(5), 768-75.