The fourth key to successful research career: A (global) research team

In the May 10 article in this column, we introduced seven keys to successful research in academia, which were distilled from our own experiences in our respective academic careers. In subsequent weeks, we also discussed three of these seven keys in more detail: establishing a separate identity as a researcher (May 10); hiring a good Ph.D. student (May 17); and professional networking (May 31). This week, we shall discuss the fourth key, which follows logically from the previous two points we discussed: A (global) research team.

In the first place, we need to emphasize that good research is often a team effort, rather a “one man show,” especially for someone who would like to establish himself or herself as a key player in the global arena. Hence, one needs to start building a research team at the very early stages of an academic career. Obviously, one of the easiest ways to begin forming a team is to start with your own Ph.D. student (even if you only have one to start with). In some universities, you may have to appoint a co-supervisor for the student; clearly, this colleague will naturally become part of the research team. 

The next step to do is to identify a collaborator who is interested to work on the project together. We encourage international collaboration if possible, as this will help the young academic to start establish himself in the global community. In addition, in highly specialized fields, it is often easier to find partners overseas than in one’s own university (this is precisely how the authors of this series of articles met, a decade ago, in Kuala Lumpur). Another benefit, pointed out by Alice Gast in a recent issue of Scientific American, is that unique cultural traits of different nationalities often contribute to a more robust, multi-faceted problem-solving approach than is otherwise possible. So an important skill that a young academic need to learn is to find good collaboration partners. Apart from the co-supervisor of the Ph.D. student mentioned above, we should also step out from our university or even country to identify long-term collaborators. Conferences, workshops and seminars that we attend are part of the sources where we can find potential collaborators (see the third key discussed on May 31). Besides, ex-colleagues, friends or even former supervisors might be potential collaborators too. You may also try sending e-mails to the author of the paper that you read. Sometimes you might be surprised to get a reply from the author, whom you think is a great professor of the area of research. He/she might then become your research collaborator in the future. With the widespread use of e-mail and Internet, the world has become almost truly borderless, making it possible to work with someone whom you may not even have met face to face. Imagine how such interactions would have seemed impossible to researchers just one generation ago! So, don’t be too surprised that your closest collaborator might be someone from overseas whom you seldom meet (we consider ourselves an excellent example of such long-distance collaboration) 

From our experience, for a successful collaboration, it is important to identify a good research scope that will benefit and draw the expertise of both sides. For a start, it will be good to focus on the research scope of a newly appointed Ph.D. student, whose apprenticeship is normally the main “engine” for a successful research project (see the first key discussed on May 17). With the establishment of collaboration, it will be good to send students to have attachment with the collaborators, in order to make the joint project work. Of course, we will have to work out the financial part as well (international grants such as Marie Currie fellowship, or even student travel/conference grant from university will enable this kind of short attachment). In any way, a short stay of two weeks, or an extended period of three to six months can surely enhance the collaboration experience of both sides. Note however that, to ensure the best outcome, the young academic will have to provide basic research training before the student is sent out for the attachment.

In summary, the true mark of successful collaboration is the right kind of paperwork that we should do. Strong collaborations are best forged through joint papers published in scientific journals, rather than legal documents (such as those ubiquitous memoranda of understanding, or MOUs, that all too often end up tucked away in university filing cabinets). We, for example, have enjoyed the benefits of working together for close to a decade now, with more than 40 journal articles, countless conference papers, one book and the joint supervision of close to a dozen research students to show for our efforts. And all this was done without a formal MOU (although we are now working on finally having such an agreement). 

That now makes four out of seven keys to be successful researchers. The remaining three will be the topic of future Star Science articles in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, if you, the reader, are a newly minted Ph.D. seeking to establish a thriving research career in academia, we certainly hope that the ideas we have shared to date are going to be of great help to you. 

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Ir. Dr. Dominic C. Y. Foo is a professor of Process Design and Integration at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, and is leading the Center of Excellence for Green Technologies. He is a professional engineer registered with the Board of Engineer Malaysia (BEM). He establishes international collaboration with researchers from various countries in Asia, Europe, America and Africa. He is an active author, with two forthcoming books, more than 70 journal papers and made more than 120 conference presentations. He served as an International Scientific Committee for several important conferences (CHISA/PRES, FOCAPD, ESCAPE, PSE, etc.). He is the winner of the Innovator of the Year Award 2009 of Institution of Chemical Engineers UK (IChemE), as well as the 2010 Young Engineer Award of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM). He also actively conducts professional training for practicing engineers. 

Prof. Raymond R. Tan is a university fellow and full professor of Chemical Engineering at De La Salle University. He is also the current director of that institution’s Center for Engineering and Sustainable Development Research (CESDR). He is the author of more than 70 process systems engineering (PSE) articles that have been published in chemical, environmental and energy engineering journals. He is a member of the editorial boards of the journals Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, Philippine Science Letters and Sustainable Technologies, Systems & Policies, and is co-editor of the forthcoming book Recent Advances in Sustainable Process Design and Optimization. He is also the recipient of multiple awards from the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP). He may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].