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Collaboration and partnership
3 Must-do’s for your next grant application
All too often the grant application deadline creeps up. We get so busy trying to finish off previous grants, manage our teams and publish our research in order to attain funding. With all this going on it’s not surprising that the process of developing strategic collaborations and valuable non-academic partnerships can fall by the wayside, or become an activity left to the dying hours prior to submitting the grant.
Collaboration tools for researchers
The world is getting smaller, or so it seems. Research teams are no longer limited to the same institution, the same jurisdiction, or even the same country. Collaborative research teams are very powerful and have the ability to achieve more than one entity can on its own, but how can we manage teams and work collaboratively when there is distance and time zone changes to consider?
Lost and confused in translation
With over 90 terms used to describe knowledge translation, 52 of these specifically for the medical discipline, its no wonder there is so much confusion about translation. This can be a contentious topic since translation, or whatever you choose to call it, can mean different things to different people.
Where does research begin and end, or where should it?
For some time now, I have been pondering the notion of how we need to consider changing where research begins and ends. Traditionally research starts with writing a grant and usually finishes with publishing a paper – it’s funny, I have never thought about the way we currently bookend our research with a bunch of writing to justify ourselves!
What do you do when the conference is over?
So you’ve spent the better part of a week learning, networking and eating and drinking. You are returning home and back to work with a bag full of business cards, a heart full of hope and a head filled with possibilities. Now what?
The 3 stages of successful stakeholder engagement
For successful translation, and research in general, we must acknowledge the importance of collaboration, building networks, and engaging non-academic stakeholders. Research looking at stakeholder engagement has found that authentic communication and reciprocal relationships are of high importance. But all too often, what we want to do and what gets done in reality is very different.
Playing nice with research partners
There are as many good intentions to work in real partnership as there are barriers to working in partnership.
Modern day researchers
Times are changing, we are constantly hearing that there is less money in research grants, greater expectations on the researchers time, and greater and easier access to information by both knowledge producers and knowledge users (i.e. internet and open access). The way we want to consume our information has also changed and that affects the way in which information should be conveyed or presented.
Making the most of a LinkedIn coffee date
Following on from last week’s blog on networking, I wanted to talk about the things you should do to prepare for your first in-person meeting with a potential non-academic partner.
Highlights and musings from the NHMRC Research Translation Symposium
I attended the NHMRC Research Translation symposium on the 27th and 28th October. The symposium was very interesting and provided some very valuable opportunities to network with like-minded individuals. This blog is about the symposium and some of the key points that were made along with my interpretations of the information provided and what it means to researchers that want to successfully translate their work for greater good.
Communication & dissemination
Innovation, creativity and significance in Ideas Grants
The NHMRC Ideas Grant, what goes where and how? The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants, first launched in 2019, with the aim to “support innovative research projects addressing a specific question”. The applications for NHMRC Ideas Grants are peer-reviewed across four categories; Research Quality (35%), Innovation and Creativity (25%), Significance […]
Collaboration tools for researchers
The world is getting smaller, or so it seems. Research teams are no longer limited to the same institution, the same jurisdiction, or even the same country. Collaborative research teams are very powerful and have the ability to achieve more than one entity can on its own, but how can we manage teams and work collaboratively when there is distance and time zone changes to consider?
Three cool tools for researchers
With so many online programs, apps and other tools available, and new ones being created everyday, it can be impossible to choose what to use or even to know what’s available. I thought it would be a good opportunity to walk you through three online tools that I am using frequently. There are many that I use, but these three I will show you are the most popular and are relevant to knowledge translation and researchers.
Lost and confused in translation
With over 90 terms used to describe knowledge translation, 52 of these specifically for the medical discipline, its no wonder there is so much confusion about translation. This can be a contentious topic since translation, or whatever you choose to call it, can mean different things to different people.
What do you do when the conference is over?
So you’ve spent the better part of a week learning, networking and eating and drinking. You are returning home and back to work with a bag full of business cards, a heart full of hope and a head filled with possibilities. Now what?
Top 4 social platforms for researchers – What, Why and How
I recently published a post on LinkedIn outlining why researchers should be using social media (post can be found here). I would now like to outline the top 4 social platforms that researchers should be using and the reasons behind this.
The 3 stages of successful stakeholder engagement
For successful translation, and research in general, we must acknowledge the importance of collaboration, building networks, and engaging non-academic stakeholders. Research looking at stakeholder engagement has found that authentic communication and reciprocal relationships are of high importance. But all too often, what we want to do and what gets done in reality is very different.
The 3 biggest misconceptions about knowledge translation
There are many views and understandings of knowledge translation (KT), in fact within a room full of people it can be unlikely that two people will use the same definition. Despite this, I am still constantly surprised at the different views about knowledge translation, what it is, what it is not, and who it is relevant to.
Social media updates and a hot tip
You may have been using social media channels for your research profile for some time. But like anything, every platform wants to change and evolve. I noticed just the other day some changes to Twitter and LinkedIn that you may or may not have noticed, and also, I have noticed some bad habits of social media users that I would like to point out, in a friendly way of course.
Playing nice with research partners
There are as many good intentions to work in real partnership as there are barriers to working in partnership.
Research Translation
Building your KT plan
When faced with the question of research impact many people conjure up thoughts of the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework exercise (REF) and endless reams of case study paperwork. But perhaps more important than merely measuring and reporting our impact, is the development of the pathway to get to impact and embedding strategies to measure our impacts.
Developing your research vision
Here is what you should do to generate your vision For several year’s now, I have been working with researchers to develop their research vision. In the beginning, some researchers thought this was a little strange, and I was even met with the comment, “Tamika, a vision is something companies have”! However, since then, […]
Where does research begin and end, or where should it?
For some time now, I have been pondering the notion of how we need to consider changing where research begins and ends. Traditionally research starts with writing a grant and usually finishes with publishing a paper – it’s funny, I have never thought about the way we currently bookend our research with a bunch of writing to justify ourselves!
The 3 stages of successful stakeholder engagement
For successful translation, and research in general, we must acknowledge the importance of collaboration, building networks, and engaging non-academic stakeholders. Research looking at stakeholder engagement has found that authentic communication and reciprocal relationships are of high importance. But all too often, what we want to do and what gets done in reality is very different.
The 3 biggest misconceptions about knowledge translation
There are many views and understandings of knowledge translation (KT), in fact within a room full of people it can be unlikely that two people will use the same definition. Despite this, I am still constantly surprised at the different views about knowledge translation, what it is, what it is not, and who it is relevant to.
Planning for success. How sport strategy can help your impact planning
The other day I arranged to meet up with a friend of mine who is also a solopreneur. I wanted to catch up because we hadn’t seen each other for a while and his mentorship and the discussions that we have are inspiring, insightful and of great relevance to the work I do. It is always great to sit down with like-minded people that may not get exactly what you do, but can bring a new perspective and quiet the noise in your head.
Key factors in planning your translation
It’s that time of year when we are planning, setting goals and thinking of what we want to achieve over the next twelve months. To make the most of your translation efforts, we have come up with these five key considerations for communication.
Is KT the key to reducing research waste?
In 2004 the Lancet published a series of papers about wastage in medical research. The findings of the series estimated that 85% of research is wasted. The wastage was highlighted across 4 stages of research.
Highlights and musings from the NHMRC Research Translation Symposium
I attended the NHMRC Research Translation symposium on the 27th and 28th October. The symposium was very interesting and provided some very valuable opportunities to network with like-minded individuals. This blog is about the symposium and some of the key points that were made along with my interpretations of the information provided and what it means to researchers that want to successfully translate their work for greater good.
Demystifying research translation
A consistent finding in health and medical research is the failure to translate research into useful and usable services in practice and policy (Grimshaw et al.), and that the process is often “slow and haphazard”.
Research Impact
MBIE Smart Ideas Proposals
Taking a concept from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Smart Ideas proposal and moulding it into a full application is not an easy task. The full proposal requires the addition of details of research implementation and impact, which can be quite confusing if you are not aware of the terminology and steps you can take.
Innovation, creativity and significance in Ideas Grants
The NHMRC Ideas Grant, what goes where and how? The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants, first launched in 2019, with the aim to “support innovative research projects addressing a specific question”. The applications for NHMRC Ideas Grants are peer-reviewed across four categories; Research Quality (35%), Innovation and Creativity (25%), Significance […]
Lessons learnt from over 100 NHMRC impact case study reviews
Lessons learnt from over 100 NHMRC impact case study reviews In 2018, the National Health and Medical Research Council rolled out its new grant scheme. Among those funding opportunities were the Investigator Grants where they introduced, for the first time, a three-part Impact Case Study to be reviewed as part of the applicants track record. […]
Building your KT plan
When faced with the question of research impact many people conjure up thoughts of the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework exercise (REF) and endless reams of case study paperwork. But perhaps more important than merely measuring and reporting our impact, is the development of the pathway to get to impact and embedding strategies to measure our impacts.
Developing your research vision
Here is what you should do to generate your vision For several year’s now, I have been working with researchers to develop their research vision. In the beginning, some researchers thought this was a little strange, and I was even met with the comment, “Tamika, a vision is something companies have”! However, since then, […]
Where does research begin and end, or where should it?
For some time now, I have been pondering the notion of how we need to consider changing where research begins and ends. Traditionally research starts with writing a grant and usually finishes with publishing a paper – it’s funny, I have never thought about the way we currently bookend our research with a bunch of writing to justify ourselves!
The value of a PhD
There are an increasing number of people graduating with a PhD and an increasing lack of available academic and research positions. Despite this daunting prospect, we are lucky that students remain keen to embark on this journey.
The 5 tips to creating research impact
The emphasis on research impact continues to grow in Australia with research institutes and universities requesting this information as part of their reporting processes. For example, the Australian Association of Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) ask about research impacts and request information about this from the member organisations as part of their annual reporting cycle.
Planning for success. How sport strategy can help your impact planning
The other day I arranged to meet up with a friend of mine who is also a solopreneur. I wanted to catch up because we hadn’t seen each other for a while and his mentorship and the discussions that we have are inspiring, insightful and of great relevance to the work I do. It is always great to sit down with like-minded people that may not get exactly what you do, but can bring a new perspective and quiet the noise in your head.
Overcoming the Research Translation Challenge in Australia
I was interested to read the six challenges facing Australia’s medical research sector in The Conversation, outlined by outgoing CEO of the NHMRC, Professor Warwick Anderson. The challenge that was raised around research translation stuck a chord with me and I would like to share my thoughts and insights with you here.
Funding
MBIE Smart Ideas Proposals
Taking a concept from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Smart Ideas proposal and moulding it into a full application is not an easy task. The full proposal requires the addition of details of research implementation and impact, which can be quite confusing if you are not aware of the terminology and steps you can take.
Innovation, creativity and significance in Ideas Grants
The NHMRC Ideas Grant, what goes where and how? The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants, first launched in 2019, with the aim to “support innovative research projects addressing a specific question”. The applications for NHMRC Ideas Grants are peer-reviewed across four categories; Research Quality (35%), Innovation and Creativity (25%), Significance […]
3 Must-do’s for your next grant application
All too often the grant application deadline creeps up. We get so busy trying to finish off previous grants, manage our teams and publish our research in order to attain funding. With all this going on it’s not surprising that the process of developing strategic collaborations and valuable non-academic partnerships can fall by the wayside, or become an activity left to the dying hours prior to submitting the grant.
Building your KT plan
When faced with the question of research impact many people conjure up thoughts of the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework exercise (REF) and endless reams of case study paperwork. But perhaps more important than merely measuring and reporting our impact, is the development of the pathway to get to impact and embedding strategies to measure our impacts.
Developing your research vision
Here is what you should do to generate your vision For several year’s now, I have been working with researchers to develop their research vision. In the beginning, some researchers thought this was a little strange, and I was even met with the comment, “Tamika, a vision is something companies have”! However, since then, […]
Where does research begin and end, or where should it?
For some time now, I have been pondering the notion of how we need to consider changing where research begins and ends. Traditionally research starts with writing a grant and usually finishes with publishing a paper – it’s funny, I have never thought about the way we currently bookend our research with a bunch of writing to justify ourselves!
Overcoming the Research Translation Challenge in Australia
I was interested to read the six challenges facing Australia’s medical research sector in The Conversation, outlined by outgoing CEO of the NHMRC, Professor Warwick Anderson. The challenge that was raised around research translation stuck a chord with me and I would like to share my thoughts and insights with you here.
Making sense of translation in health research
It feels like translation is the new buzz word in research, or at least that’s how it could be taken in the Australian context. Over the last couple of years and particularly the last 12 months, the term ‘translation” has been thrown into everything in an effort to show that researchers and research funders are involved in making a difference to the lives of the public, who ultimately fund the research.
Is KT the key to reducing research waste?
In 2004 the Lancet published a series of papers about wastage in medical research. The findings of the series estimated that 85% of research is wasted. The wastage was highlighted across 4 stages of research.
Innovation in research stifled by the stigma of failure
The similarities between research and entrepreneurism are quite interesting. Having moved from research to business I find myself constantly noticing the opportunities for research to take a leaf out of the entrepreneurs playbook, to become more innovative.
Innovation
The value of a PhD
There are an increasing number of people graduating with a PhD and an increasing lack of available academic and research positions. Despite this daunting prospect, we are lucky that students remain keen to embark on this journey.
The 3 biggest misconceptions about knowledge translation
There are many views and understandings of knowledge translation (KT), in fact within a room full of people it can be unlikely that two people will use the same definition. Despite this, I am still constantly surprised at the different views about knowledge translation, what it is, what it is not, and who it is relevant to.
Innovation in research stifled by the stigma of failure
The similarities between research and entrepreneurism are quite interesting. Having moved from research to business I find myself constantly noticing the opportunities for research to take a leaf out of the entrepreneurs playbook, to become more innovative.
Are you feeling uncomfortable?
Being comfortable being uncomfortable – a phrase I have heard a lot lately and that really resonates with me. There are many areas of our lives that this statement applies to.
Terminology
Demystifying research translation
A consistent finding in health and medical research is the failure to translate research into useful and usable services in practice and policy (Grimshaw et al.), and that the process is often “slow and haphazard”.
Social media
Three cool tools for researchers
With so many online programs, apps and other tools available, and new ones being created everyday, it can be impossible to choose what to use or even to know what’s available. I thought it would be a good opportunity to walk you through three online tools that I am using frequently. There are many that I use, but these three I will show you are the most popular and are relevant to knowledge translation and researchers.
Where have all the #hashtags gone?
Anyone who uses Twitter will understand that looking at your general news feed, and the people you follow, is something left for spare time. But, with so little spare time, is it reasonable to trawl through the tweets in your timeline?
What do you do when the conference is over?
So you’ve spent the better part of a week learning, networking and eating and drinking. You are returning home and back to work with a bag full of business cards, a heart full of hope and a head filled with possibilities. Now what?
Top 4 social platforms for researchers – What, Why and How
I recently published a post on LinkedIn outlining why researchers should be using social media (post can be found here). I would now like to outline the top 4 social platforms that researchers should be using and the reasons behind this.
Social media updates and a hot tip
You may have been using social media channels for your research profile for some time. But like anything, every platform wants to change and evolve. I noticed just the other day some changes to Twitter and LinkedIn that you may or may not have noticed, and also, I have noticed some bad habits of social media users that I would like to point out, in a friendly way of course.
LinkedIn, is it useful for academics?
LinkedIn is one of the fastest growing social media platforms with 2 new members joining per second. LinkedIn has over 3.5 Million Australian users. Reports suggest that there are 1.9 million academics listed on LinkedIn.
Five skills to boost your research career
This week I use another sporting analogy to outline a concept that applies to how we work in research.
Facebook for Researchers
As promised, continuing on from last weeks blog, this week we delve into a social media application that is specifically for science and researchers.
Evernote as a curation tool for researchers
Don’t you just hate it when you can’t find that document you need on your computer or remember the website you visited and would like to revisit? Wouldn’t it be great if you could find an easy to use and convenient repository to organise all your thoughts, website links, pdfs of journal articles, and notes from meetings in one place?
Crowdsourcing for knowledge translation
What is crowdsourcing? Crowdsourcing, also referred to as citizen science and open innovation, is the process of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by outsourcing tasks to the wider public. The tasks can be done online and are sometimes paid. The benefit of crowdsourcing is that the more people that are working on a task, the faster and more varied results you will get.